Advancements in Dermatological Applications of Curcumin: Clinical Efficacy and Mechanistic Insights in the Management of Skin Disorders

Curcumin, derived from Curcuma longa (turmeric), exhibits significant potential in dermatology, addressing conditions like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, chronic wounds, skin cancer, and infections through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial properties. This review synthesizes evidence on curcumin's mechanisms, including modulation of immune responses and promotion of wound healing, showcasing its efficacy in reducing inflammation, cytokine levels, and enhancing skin barrier functions. Studies highlight curcumin's ability to selectively target tumor cells, suggesting a multifaceted approach to cancer therapy with minimal side effects. Despite promising therapeutic benefits, challenges remain in bioavailability, potency, and targeted delivery, underscoring the need for further research to optimize dosages, delivery methods, and assess long-term safety. The integration of curcumin into dermatological practice requires a balanced consideration of evidence-based efficacy and safety. Curcumin's comprehensive utility in dermatology, coupled with the necessity for advanced scientific exploration, emphasizes the importance of combining traditional knowledge with contemporary research to improve patient care in dermatology. This approach could significantly enhance outcomes for individuals with skin-related conditions, marking curcumin as a versatile and promising agent in the field.

Exploring the correlation between progression of human papillomavirus infection towards carcinogenesis and nutrition

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted virus that can lead to the development of various types of cancer. While there are vaccines available to prevent HPV infection, there is also growing interest in the role of nutrition in reducing the risk of HPV-related cancers in HPV positive patients. Diet and nutrition play a critical role in maintaining overall health and preventing various diseases. A healthy diet can strengthen the immune system, which is essential for fighting off infections, including HPV infections, and preventing the growth and spread of cancer cells. Therefore, following a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight are important components of HPV and cancer prevention. This article explores the current scientific evidence on the relationship between nutrition and HPV, including the impact of specific nutrients, dietary patterns, and supplements on HPV infection toward cancer progression.

Curcumin suppressed the proliferation and apoptosis of HPV-positive cervical cancer cells by directly targeting the E6 protein

Most human papillomavirus (HPV) types, including HPV16 and HPV18, are closely related to the occurrence of cervical cancer, predominantly through the action of viral oncoproteins E6 and E7. Curcumin, the active ingredient of the turmeric plant, has been gaining attention over the past two decades as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer agent. In the present study, the HPV-positive cervical cancer cells HeLa and CaSki were treated with curcumin, and the results showed that curcumin has a dose-dependent and time-dependent inhibitory effect on cell viability. In addition, apoptosis induction was further quantitatively confirmed through flow cytometric analysis. Furthermore, the influence of different concentrations of curcumin on the mitochondrial membrane potential was evaluated through JC-1 staining and found to dramatically decrease the membrane potential in treated HeLa and CaSki cells, suggesting the critical role of the mitochondrial pathway in their apoptosis-inducing effect. This study also demonstrated the wound-healing potential of curcumin, and the results of transwell assays showed that curcumin treatment inhibited HeLa and CaSki cell invasion and migration in a dose-dependent manner compared with the control treatment. Curcumin also downregulated the expression of Bcl-2, N-cadherin, and Vimentin and upregulated the expression of Bax, C-caspase-3, and E-cadherin in both cell lines. Further research showed that curcumin also selectively inhibited the expression of the viral oncoproteins E6 and E7, as demonstrated by western blot analysis; moreover, the downregulation of E6 was more significant than that of E7. Our research also showed that coculture with cells infected with siE6 lentivirus (siE6 cells) can inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of HPV-positive cells. While the siE6 cells were also treated with curcumin, the effect of curcumin monotherapy was offset. In summary, our research shows that curcumin regulates the apoptosis, migration, and invasion of cervical cancer cells, and the mechanism may be related to its ability to downregulate E6. This study provides a foundation for future research on the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer.

Basic research on curcumin in cervical cancer: Progress and perspectives

Curcumin is a polyphenolic substance extracted from plants such as Curcuma longa, Curcuma zedoaria, and radix curcumae, and it has attracted much attention because of the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, antibacterial and other multiple pharmacological effects. Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women. With the application of HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine, the incidence of cervical cancer is expected to be reduced, but it remains difficult to promote the vaccine among low-income population. As a commonly used food additive, curcumin has recently been found to have a significant therapeutic effect in the treatment of cervical cancer. In recent years, numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have found that curcumin can have significant efficacy in anti-cervical cancer treatment by promoting apoptosis, inhibiting tumour cell proliferation, metastasis and invasion, inhibiting HPV and inducing autophagy in tumour cells. However, due to poor water solubility, rapid catabolism, and low bioavailability of curcumin, studies on curcumin derivatives and novel formulations are increasing. Curcumin has a wide range of mechanisms of action against cervical cancer and may become a novel antitumor drug in the future, opening up new ideas for the research of curcumin in the field of antitumor. There is a lack of systematic reviews on the mechanism of action of curcumin against cervical cancer. Therefore, this study is a review of the literature based on the mechanism of action of curcumin against cervical cancer, with a view to providing reference information for scientific and clinical practitioners.

Curcumin-Loaded Silica Nanoparticles: Applications in Infectious Disease and Food Industry

Curcumin has multiple properties that are used to cure different diseases such as cancer, infections, inflammatory, arthritic disease, etc. Despite having many effects, the inherent physicochemical properties-such as poor water solubility, chemical instability, low bioavailability, photodegradation, fast metabolism, and short half-life-of curcumin's derivatives have limited its medical importance. Recently, unprecedented advances in biomedical nanotechnology have led to the development of nanomaterial-based drug delivery systems in the treatment of diseases and diagnostic goals that simultaneously enhance therapeutic outcomes and avoid side effects. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are promising drug delivery systems for more effective and safer treatment of several diseases, such as infections, cancers, and osteoporosis. Achieving a high drug loading in MSNs is critical to the success of this type of treatment. Their notable inherent properties-such as adjustable size and porosity, high pore volume, large surface area, functionality of versatile surfaces, as well as biocompatibility-have prompted extraordinary research on MSNs as multi-purpose delivery platforms. In this review, we focused on curcumin-loaded silica nanoparticles and their effects on the diagnosis and treatment of infections as well as their use in food packaging.

Curcumin-Based Nanoformulations: A Promising Adjuvant towards Cancer Treatment

Throughout the United States, cancer remains the second leading cause of death. Traditional treatments induce significant medical toxic effects and unpleasant adverse reactions, making them inappropriate for long-term use. Consequently, anticancer-drug resistance and relapse are frequent in certain situations. Thus, there is an urgent necessity to find effective antitumor medications that are specific and have few adverse consequences. Curcumin is a polyphenol derivative found in the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa L.), and provides chemopreventive, antitumor, chemo-, and radio-sensitizing properties. In this paper, we summarize the new nano-based formulations of polyphenolic curcumin because of the growing interest in its application against cancers and tumors. According to recent studies, the use of nanoparticles can overcome the hydrophobic nature of curcumin, as well as improving its stability and cellular bioavailability in vitro and in vivo. Several strategies for nanocurcumin production have been developed, each with its own set of advantages and unique features. Because the majority of the curcumin-based nanoformulation evidence is still in the conceptual stage, there are still numerous issues impeding the provision of nanocurcumin as a possible therapeutic option. To support the science, further work is necessary to develop curcumin as a viable anti-cancer adjuvant. In this review, we cover the various curcumin nanoformulations and nanocurcumin implications for therapeutic uses for cancer, as well as the current state of clinical studies and patents. We further address the knowledge gaps and future research orientations required to develop curcumin as a feasible treatment candidate.

Epigenetic and Transcriptomic Regulation Landscape in HPV+ Cancers: Biological and Clinical Implications

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is an oncogenic virus that causes the highest number of viral-associated cancer cases and deaths worldwide, with more than 690,000 new cases per year and 342,000 deaths only for cervical cancer (CC). Although the incidence and mortality rates for CC are declining in countries where screening and vaccination programs have been implemented, other types of cancer in which HPV is involved, such as oropharyngeal cancer, are increasing, particularly in men. Mutational and transcriptional profiles of various HPV-associated neoplasms have been described, and accumulated evidence has shown the oncogenic capacity of E6, E7, and E5 genes of high-risk HPV. Interestingly, transcriptomic analysis has revealed that although a vast majority of the human genome is transcribed into RNAs, only 2% of transcripts are translated into proteins. The remaining transcripts lacking protein-coding potential are called non-coding RNAs. In addition to the transfer and ribosomal RNAs, there are regulatory non-coding RNAs classified according to size and structure in long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and small RNAs; such as microRNAs (miRNAs), piwi-associated RNAs (piRNAs), small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) and endogenous short-interfering RNAs. Recent evidence has shown that lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circRNAs are aberrantly expressed under pathological conditions such as cancer. In addition, those transcripts are dysregulated in HPV-related neoplasms, and their expression correlates with tumor progression, metastasis, poor prognosis, and recurrence. Nuclear lncRNAs are epigenetic regulators involved in controlling gene expression at the transcriptional level through chromatin modification and remodeling. Moreover, disruption of the expression profiles of those lncRNAs affects multiple biological processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. This review highlights the epigenetic alterations induced by HPV, from infection to neoplastic transformation. We condense the epigenetic role of non-coding RNA alterations and their potential as biomarkers in transformation’s early stages and clinical applications. We also summarize the molecular mechanisms of action of nuclear lncRNAs to understand better their role in the epigenetic control of gene expression and how they can drive the malignant phenotype of HPV-related neoplasia. Finally, we review several chemical and epigenetic therapy options to prevent and treat HPV-associated neoplasms.

Natural Bioactives: Back to the Future in the Fight against Human Papillomavirus? A Narrative Review

Human papillomavirus (HPV) still represents an important threat to health worldwide. Better therapy in terms of further improvement of outcomes and attenuation of related side-effects is desirable. The pharmaceutical industry has always targeted natural substances-phytochemicals in particular-to identify lead compounds to be clinically validated and industrially produced as antiviral and anticancer drugs. In the field of HPV, numerous naturally occurring bioactives and dietary phytochemicals have been investigated as potentially valuable in vitro and in vivo. Interference with several pathways and improvement of the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents have been demonstrated. Notably, some clinical trials have been conducted. Despite being endowed with general safety, these natural substances are in urgent need of further assessment to foresee their clinical exploitation. This review summarizes the basic research efforts conducted so far in the study of anti-HPV properties of bio-actives with insights into their mechanisms of action and highlights the variety of their natural origin in order to provide comprehensive mapping throughout the different sources. The clinical studies available are reported, as well, to highlight the need of uniformity and consistency of studies in the future to select those natural compounds that may be suited to clinical application.

HPV-induced cancers: preclinical therapeutic advancements

INTRODUCTION

High-risk HPV infections are related to several epithelial cancers. Despite the availability of prophylactic vaccines, HPV infections are still responsible for about 5% of all human malignancies worldwide. While therapeutic vaccines are ongoing clinical trials, genotoxic agents and surgical interventions represent current clinical treatments, with no specific anti-HPV drugs yet available in the clinics.

AREAS COVERED

We offer a comprehensive report of small molecules in preclinical studies proposed as potential anticancer agents against HPV-driven tumors. Given the importance of HPV oncoproteins for cancer maintenance, particularly E6 and E7, we present a classification of both non-targeted and targeted agents, with a further subdivision of the latter into two categories according to their either direct or indirect activity against viral protein functions.

EXPERT OPINION

Prophylactic vaccines can prevent the insurgence of HPV-related cancers, but have no effect against pre-existing infections. Moreover, their high cost, genotype-restricted effect and the growing worldwide distrust for vaccines make the availability of a specific drug an unmet medical need. Different viral early proteins emerge as ideal candidates for drug development. We highlight the most promising strategies and address future challenges in this field to herald the prospect of a specific therapeutic regimen against HPV-related cancers.

Infection with Human Papillomavirus 18 Promotes Alkylating Agent-Induced Malignant Transformation in a Human Esophageal Cell Line

The relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) and esophageal cancer (EC) has been controversial, which may be caused by the difference in geographic regions of sample origin. Thus, we conducted a case-control study to find that HPV increased the risk of esophageal cancer, and the HPV18 detection rate is the highest (24.2%) among patients with EC, suggesting that HPV18 could be the most risk subtype of HPV infected. We then identified high-risk HPV18 and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitroso-guanidine (MNNG) to establish a model on the viral etiology cooperating with environmental carcinogens. Het-1A cells containing HPV18 were continuously exposed to MNNG or not; then the morphological phenotype and function assays were performed in 25th passage cells. MNNG promoted the proliferation and invasion abilities and inhibited apoptosis both in Het-1A-HPV18 and control group. However, the Het-1A-HPV18 had a stronger change in phenotypic features and formed more transformed foci in soft agar. Further, Western blot found p53 and p21 were down-regulated, and expression of c-Myc, MMP-2, and MMP-9 and Bcl-2/Bax ratio were up-regulated. Our results revealed that MNNG was easier to induce malignant transformation of Het-1A cells transfected with HPV18. It is good evidence for the close relationship between HPV and the etiology of EC, providing foundation for further study in molecular mechanism and specific intervention targets.

Live cell, image-based high-throughput screen to quantitate p53 stabilization and viability in human papillomavirus positive cancer cells

Approximately 5% of cancers are caused by high-risk human papillomaviruses. Although very effective preventive vaccines will reduce this cancer burden significantly over the next several decades, they have no therapeutic effect for those already infected and remaining at risk for malignant progression of hrHPV lesions. HPV-associated cancers are dependent upon the expression of the viral E6 and E7 oncogenes. The oncogenic function of hrHPV E6 relies partially on its ability to induce p53 degradation. Since p53 is generally wildtype in hrHPV-associated cancers, p53 stabilization arrests proliferation, induces apoptosis and/or results in senescence. Here we describe a live cell, image-based high-throughput screen to identify compounds that stabilize p53 and/or affect viability in HPV-positive cancer HeLa cells. We validate the robustness and potential of this screening assay by assessing the activities of approximately 6,500 known bioactive compounds, illustrating its capability to function as a platform to identify novel therapeutics for hrHPV.

Spices and herbs: Potential antiviral preventives and immunity boosters during COVID-19

A severe acute respiratory syndrome is an unusual type of contagious pneumonia that is caused by SARS coronavirus. At present, the whole world is trying to combat this coronavirus disease and scientific communities are putting rigorous efforts to develop vaccines. However, there are only a few specific medical treatments for SARS-CoV-2. Apart from other public health measures taken to prevent this virus, we can boost our immunity with natural products. In this article, we have highlighted the potential of common spices and herbs as antiviral agents and immunity boosters. A questionnaire-based online survey has been conducted on home remedies during COVID-19 among a wide range of peoples (n-531) of different age groups (13-68 years) from various countries. According to the survey, 71.8% of people are taking kadha for combating infection and boosting immunity. Most people (86.1%) think that there is no side effect of kadha while 13.9% think vice versa. A total of 93.6% of people think that spices are helpful in curing coronavirus or other viral infection as well as boosting immunity. Most people are using tulsi drops, vitamin C, and chyawanprash for boosting their immunity. Therefore, we conclude from the survey and available literature that spices and herbs play a significant role against viral infections.

Nanotechnology to the Rescue: Treatment Perspective for the Immune Dysregulation Observed in COVID-19

The study of the use of nanotechnology for drug delivery has been extensive. Nanomedical approaches for therapeutics; drug delivery in particular is superior to conventional methods in that it allows for controlled targeted delivery and release, higher stability, extended circulation time, minimal side-effects, and improved pharmacokinetic clearance (of the drug) form the body, to name a few. The magnitude of COVID-19, the current ongoing pandemic has been severe; it has caused widespread the loss of human life. In individuals with severe COVID-19, immune dysregulation and a rampant state of hyperinflammation is observed. This kind of an immunopathological response is detrimental and results in rapid disease progression, development of secondary infections, sepsis and can be fatal. Several studies have pin-pointed the reason for this immune dysregulation; deviations in the signaling pathways involved in the mediation and control of immune responses. In severe COVID-19 patients, many signaling cascades including JAK/STAT, NF-κB, MAPK/ERK, TGF beta, VEGF, and Notch signaling were found to be either upregulated or inactivated. Targeting these aberrant signaling pathways in conjunction with antiviral therapy will effectuate mitigation of the hyperinflammation, hypercytokinemia, and promote faster recovery. The science of the use of nanocarriers as delivery agents to modulate these signaling pathways is not new; it has already been explored for other inflammatory diseases and in particular, cancer therapy. Numerous studies have evaluated the efficacy and potential of nanomedical approaches to modulate these signaling pathways and have been met with positive results. A treatment regime, that includes nanotherapeutics and antiviral therapies will prove effective and holds great promise for the successful treatment of COVID-19. In this article, we review different nanomedical approaches already studied for targeting aberrant signaling pathways, the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2, immunopathology and the dysregulated signaling pathways observed in severe COVID-19 and the current treatment methods in use for targeting signaling cascades in COVID-19. We then conclude by suggesting that the use of nanomedical drug delivery systems for targeting signaling pathways can be extended to effectively target the aberrant signaling pathways in COVID-19 for best treatment results.

Antiviral activity of curcumin-nanoemulsion associated with photodynamic therapy in vulvar cell lines transducing different variants of HPV-16

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Curcumin is a natural bioactive compound with antineoplastic properties. The use of nanoparticles containing curcumin could allow a better performance of this compound in therapies. So, VIN biopsies were collected and HPV DNA detection was performed by PCR, positive samples were genotyped by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) and HPV-16 variants were determined by sequencing. HPV-16 positive vulva carcinoma cells (A431) were transduced with E-P and E-350G HPV-16 E6 variants. The viability of the transduced cells treated with nanoemulsions was determined by MTT assay. Besides, apoptosis was evaluated by enzymatic activity of Caspase-3/7. The cell viability assay showed that both the empty nanoemulsion (NE-V) and the nanoemulsion of curcumin (NE-CUR) had little effect on cell viability as compared to control cells. Additionally, we observed that cells irradiated in the presence of NE-CUR presented 90% of cell death. The apoptosis assay further revealed a significant increase in the activity of caspases 3 and 7 in A431 cells expressing both HPV-16 E6 variants after treatment with NE-CUR. Finally, we submitted the HPV transduced A431 cells to organotypic cultures and observed that the combination of treatments affected tissue architecture with evident signals of tissue damage. We concluded that nanoemulsions attain good biocompatibility, since no cytotoxicity was observed and NE-CUR associated with photoactivation showed promising results, leading to death only in cells subjected to irradiation. This drug delivery system associated with photodynamic therapy may become promising in the treatment of vulva lesions.

Clearance of human papillomavirus infection in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: A systemic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There are currently no available standard drugs treating human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, especially for patients with low-grade cervical lesion. Several therapies are explored but the results are inconclusive. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of reported non-invasive treatments in patients with HPV infection and cervical lesions by meta-analysis.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of prospective and randomized studies published from April 2000 to April 2020 was conducted in electronic databases. The statistical analyses of the pooled risk ratios (RRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were performed using the Revman 5.2 software.

RESULTS

Twelve articles including 12 randomized controlled studies and 1 prospective controlled randomized pilot study were enrolled. Therapeutic medications included biological and herbal regimen, interferon regimen and probiotics. The meta-analysis showed the experimental treatments had a statistically significant improvement in HPV clearance rate compared with the controls (RR = 0.71, 95% CI [0.63, 0.80], P < .00001); subgroup analyses stratified by regimen categories were consistent with results in the overall group. Treatment using biological and herbal regimen, interferon regimen or probiotics also resulted in a beneficial outcome in regression rate of cervical lesions compared with the controls (RR = 0.55, 95% CI [0.39, 0.79], P = .001). The trend was more favorable in the probiotics than that in the biological and herbal regimen (RR 0.48 vs 0.72).

CONCLUSION

Treatment of biological and herbal regimen, interferon regimen and probiotics benefit patients who have HPV infection and cervical lesions. Both the clearance of HPV and regression of cervical lesions are significant. More studies with less heterogeneity are needed to draw a concrete conclusion.

Therapeutic role of curcumin and its novel formulations in gynecological cancers

Gynecological cancers are among the leading causes of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. While the number of cases are rising, current therapeutic approaches are not efficient enough. There are considerable side-effects as well as treatment resistant types. In addition, which all make the treatment complicated for afflicted cases. Therefore, in order to improve efficacy of the treatment process and patients’ quality of life, searching for novel adjuvant treatments is highly warranted. Curcumin, a promising natural compound, is endowed with numerous therapeutic potentials including significant anticancer effects. Recently, various investigations have demonstrated the anticancer effects of curcumin and its novel analogues on gynecological cancers. Moreover, novel formulations of curcumin have resulted in further propitious effects. This review discusses these studies and highlights the possible underlying mechanisms of the observed effects.

Plant-Derived Natural Compounds in Genetic Vaccination and Therapy for HPV-Associated Cancers

Simple Summary

DNA vaccination represents a useful approach for human papillomavirus (HPV) cancer therapy. The therapeutic potential of plant-based natural compounds for control of HPV- associated cancers has been also widely explored. Genetic vaccines for HPV-associated tumors that include plant protein-encoding gene sequences, used alone or in combinations with plant metabolites, are being investigated but are still in their infancy. Main focus of this paper is to provide an overview of the current state of novel therapeutic strategies employing genetic vaccines along with plant-derived compounds and genes. We highlight the importance of multimodality treatment regimen such as combining immunotherapy with plant-derived agents.

Abstract

Antigen-specific immunotherapy and, in particular, DNA vaccination provides an established approach for tackling human papillomavirus (HPV) cancers at different stages. DNA vaccines are stable and have a cost-effective production. Their intrinsic low immunogenicity has been improved by several strategies with some success, including fusion of HPV antigens with plant gene sequences. Another approach for the control of HPV cancers is the use of natural immunomodulatory agents like those derived from plants, that are able to interfere in carcinogenesis by modulating many different cellular pathways and, in some instances, to reduce chemo- and radiotherapy resistance of tumors. Indeed, plant-derived compounds represent, in many cases, an abundantly available, cost-effective source of molecules that can be either harvested directly in nature or obtained from plant cell cultures. In this review, an overview of the most relevant data reported in literature on the use of plant natural compounds and genetic vaccines that include plant-derived sequences against HPV tumors is provided. The purpose is also to highlight the still under-explored potential of multimodal treatments implying DNA vaccination along with plant-derived agents.

Thymoquinone, an Active Compound of Nigella sativa: Role in Prevention and Treatment of Cancer

Background:

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide and the current mode of cancer treatment causes side effects on normal cells and are still the key challenges in its’ treatment. However, natural products or active compounds of medicinal plants have shown to be safe, affordable, and effective in diseases cure.

Methods:

In this context, scientific studies evidence the health-promoting effects of natural products, which work through its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activity. Thymoquinone (TM), a predominant active compound of Nigella sativa, has confirmed anti-neoplastic activity through its ability to regulate various genetic pathways. In addition, thymoquinone has established anti-cancerous effects through killing of various cancerous cells,and inhibiting the initiation, migration, invasion, and progression of the cancer. The anti-cancer effects of TM are chiefly mediated via regulating various cell signaling pathways such as VEGF, bcl2/bax ratio, p53, NF-kB, and oncogenes.

Results:

The anti-cancer drugs have limitations in efficacy and also causes adverse side effects on normal cells. The combination of anti-cancer drugs and thymoquinone improves the efficacy of drugs which is evident by decrease resistance to drugs and regulation of various cell signaling pathways. Moreover, combination of anti-cancer drugs as well as thymoquinone shows synergistic effect on killing of cancer cells and cells viability. Thus, TM, in combination with anti-cancer drugs, can be a good strategy in the management of various types of cancer.

Conclusion:

In this review article, we deliver an outline of thymoquinone role in cancer inhibition and prevention of cancer-based on in vivo and in vitro studies. Further studies on thymoquinone based on clinical trials are highly required to explore the benefits of thymoquinone in cancer management.

High-Risk Human Papillomavirus and Tobacco Smoke Interactions in Epithelial Carcinogenesis

Cervical, anogenital, and some head and neck cancers (HNC) are etiologically associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection, even though additional cofactors are necessary. Epidemiological studies have established that tobacco smoke (TS) is a cofactor for cervical carcinogenesis because women who smoke are more susceptible to cervical cancer when compared to non-smokers. Even though such a relationship has not been established in HPV-related HNC, a group of HPV positive patients with this malignancy are smokers. TS is a complex mixture of more than 4500 chemical compounds and approximately 60 of them show oncogenic properties such as benzo[α]pyrene (BaP) and nitrosamines, among others. Some of these compounds have been evaluated for carcinogenesis through experimental settings in collaboration with HR-HPV. Here, we conducted a comprehensive review of the suggested molecular mechanisms involved in cooperation with both HR-HPV and TS for epithelial carcinogenesis. Furthermore, we propose interaction models in which TS collaborates with HR-HPV to promote epithelial cancer initiation, promotion, and progression. More studies are warranted to clarify interactions between oncogenic viruses and chemical or physical environmental factors for epithelial carcinogenesis.

The AP-1 pathway; A key regulator of cellular transformation modulated by oncogenic viruses

Cancer progression is critically associated with modulation of host cell signaling pathways. Activator protein-1 (AP-1) signaling is one such pathway whose deregulation renders the host more susceptible to cancer development. Oncogenic viruses, including hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human papilloma virus, Epstein-Barr virus, human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1, and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus, are common causes of cancer. This review discusses how these oncoviruses by acting through various aspects of the host cell signaling machinery such as the AP-1 pathway might affect oncoviral tumorigenesis, replication, and pathogenesis. The review also briefly considers how the pathway might be targeted during infections with these oncogenic viruses.

Protoberberine compounds extracted from Chelidonium majus L. as novel natural photosensitizers for cancer therapy

BACKGROUND

It has been shown that secondary metabolites occur in Chelidonium majus L. (C. majus) crude extract and milky sap (alkaloids such as berberine, coptisine, chelidonine, chelerythrine, sanguinarine, and protopine) are biologically active compounds with a wide spectrum of pharmacological functions. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from plants, possesses a wide range of biological activities, including inhibition of growth of a variety of cancer cell lines.

PURPOSE AND STUDY DESIGN

In the present study, we investigated the potential anticancer effect of a protoberberine alkaloidal fraction (BBR-F) isolated from the medicinal plant C. majus on HeLa and C33A cervical cancer cells after light irradiation (PDT treatment).

METHODS

BBR-F was prepared from an ethanolic extract of stems of C. majus. Identification of alkaloidal compounds was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. BBR-F was then biologically evaluated for its anticancer properties. Cytotoxic activity after PDT treatment and without light irradiation (dark cytotoxicity) was determined by colorimetric WST-1 assay. The impact of the protoberberine alkaloidal fraction on the morphology and function of the cells was assessed by fluorescence and confocal microscopy as well as by flow cytometric analysis. To investigate the proinflammatory effect of the extracted natural BBR-F, nitric oxide concentration was determined using the Griess method.

RESULTS

An effective reduction in HeLa and C33A cell viability was observed after PDT treatment of BBR-F treated cells. Furthermore, microscopic analysis identified various morphological changes in the studied cells that occurred during apoptosis. Apoptosis of HeLa and C33A cells was also characterized by biochemical changes in cell membrane composition, activation of intracellular caspases, disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.

CONCLUSION

Our results strongly suggest that the components of the natural plant protoberberine fraction (BBR-F) extracted from C. majus may represent promising novel photosensitive agents and can be applied in cancer photodynamic therapy as natural photosensitizers.

A triphenylethylene nonsteroidal SERM attenuates cervical cancer growth

Selective estrogen receptor modulator drug molecules of triphenylethylene family have gained considerable attention as anti-cancer agents. Despite recent advances in screening and development of HPV vaccines, cervical cancer remains one of the deadliest malignancies as advanced stage metastatic disease is mostly untreatable, thus warrants newer therapeutic strategies. Ormeloxifene (ORM) is a well-known SERM of triphenylethylene family that has been approved for human use, thus represents an ideal molecule for repurposing. In this study, we for the first time have demonstrated the anti-cancerous properties of ormeloxifene in cervical cancer. Ormeloxifene efficiently attenuated tumorigenic and metastatic properties of cervical cancer cells via arresting cell cycle at G1-S transition, inducing apoptosis, decreasing PI3K and Akt phosphorylation, mitochondrial membrane potential, and modulating G1-S transition related proteins (p21, cyclin E and Cdk2). Moreover, ORM repressed the expression of HPV E6/ E7 oncoproteins and restored the expression of their downstream target tumor suppressor proteins (p53, Rb and PTPN 13). As a result, ormeloxifene induces radio-sensitization in cervical cancer cells and caused potent tumor growth inhibition in orthotopic mouse model. Taken together, ormeloxifene represents an alternative therapeutic modality for cervical cancer which may have rapid clinical translation as it is already proven safe for human use.

Anti-infective Properties of the Golden Spice Curcumin

The search for novel anti-infectives is one of the most important challenges in natural product research, as diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi are influencing the human society all over the world. Natural compounds are a continuing source of novel anti-infectives. Accordingly, curcumin, has been used for centuries in Asian traditional medicine to treat various disorders. Numerous studies have shown that curcumin possesses a wide spectrum of biological and pharmacological properties, acting, for example, as anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic and anti-neoplastic, while no toxicity is associated with the compound. Recently, curcumin’s antiviral and antibacterial activity was investigated, and it was shown to act against various important human pathogens like the influenza virus, hepatitis C virus, HIV and strains of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Pseudomonas. Despite the potency, curcumin has not yet been approved as a therapeutic antiviral agent. This review summarizes the current knowledge and future perspectives of the antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal effects of curcumin.

Molecular mechanisms in progression of HPV-associated cervical carcinogenesis

Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women worldwide and a major cause of mortality in developing countries. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is a necessary cause for the development of cervical cancer. In addition, genetic and epigenetic alterations in host cell genes are crucial for progression of cervical precancerous lesions to invasive cancer. Although much progress has been made in understanding the life cycle of HPV and it’s role in the development of cervical cancer, there is still a critical need for accurate surveillance strategies and targeted therapeutic options to eradicate these cancers in patients. Given the widespread nature of HPV infection and the type specificity of currently available HPV vaccines, it is crucial that molecular details of the natural history of HPV infection as well as the biological activities of viral oncoproteins be elucidated. A better understanding of the mechanisms involved in oncogenesis can provide novel insights and opportunities for designing effective therapeutic approaches against HPV-associated malignancies. In this review, we briefly summarize epigenetic alterations and events that cause alterations in host genomes inducing cell cycle deregulation, aberrant proliferation and genomic instability contributing to tumorigenesis.

Traditional Chinese medicine as a cancer treatment: Modern perspectives of ancient but advanced science

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been practiced for thousands of years and at the present time is widely accepted as an alternative treatment for cancer. In this review, we sought to summarize the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the chemopreventive and therapeutic activity of TCM, especially that of the Chinese herbal medicine-derived phytochemicals curcumin, resveratrol, and berberine. Numerous genes have been reported to be involved when using TCM treatments and so we have selectively highlighted the role of a number of oncogene and tumor suppressor genes in TCM therapy. In addition, the impact of TCM treatment on DNA methylation, histone modification, and the regulation of noncoding RNAs is discussed. Furthermore, we have highlighted studies of TCM therapy that modulate the tumor microenvironment and eliminate cancer stem cells. The information compiled in this review will serve as a solid foundation to formulate hypotheses for future studies on TCM-based cancer therapy.

Differential Inhibitory Effects of Curcumin Between HPV+ve and HPV-ve Oral Cancer Stem Cells

Aim: To investigate the role of a herbal antioxidative compound curcumin on cell proliferation, orosphere formation and miRNA-21 expression in HPV16+ve/–ve oral cancer stem cells.

Materials and Methods: Oral cancer stem cells were isolated from HPV+ve/HPV–ve oral cancer cell lines by FACS and stemness markers. MTT, spheroid assay and qRT-PCR were employed to examine the effects of curcumin.

Results: Curcumin treatment in micromolar concentration (0–50 μM) demonstrated significant differential inhibition in CSC proliferation, orosphere formation and miRNA-21 expression in a dose dependent manner, the effect being highly pronounced in HPV positive CSCs.

Conclusion: The strong and dose-dependent inhibitory effects of curcumin on cell proliferation, stemness and miRNA appear to be due to its chemosensitizing and anticancer effects on OSCC-CSCs.

New Insights in the Pathogenesis of HPV Infection and the Associated Carcinogenic Processes: The Role of Chronic Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a small double-stranded DNA virus with tropism for epithelial cells. To this date, over 150 genotypes are known and are classified into two major groups, low-risk and high-risk strains, depending on the ability of the virus to induce malignant transformation. The host's immunity plays a central role in the course of the infection; therefore, it may not be clinically manifest or may produce various benign or malignant lesions. The pathogenic mechanisms are complex and incompletely elucidated. Recent research suggests the role of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress (OS) in the pathogenesis of HPV infection and the associated carcinogenic processes. Chronic inflammation induces OS, which in turn promotes the perpetuation of the inflammatory process resulting in the release of numerous molecules which cause cell damage. Reactive oxygen species exert a harmful effect on proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Viral oncogenes E5, E6, and E7 are involved in the development of chronic inflammation through various mechanisms. In addition, HPV may interfere with redox homeostasis of host cells, inducing OS which may be involved in the persistence of the infection and play a certain role in viral integration and promotion of carcinogenesis. Knowledge regarding the interplay between chronic inflammation and OS in the pathogenesis of HPV infection and HPV-induced carcinogenesis has important consequences on the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Facile synthesis of pH-responsive polymersomes based on lipidized PEG for intracellular co-delivery of curcumin and methotrexate

pH-responsive polymersomes were obtained by self-assembling of a carboxyl-terminated PEG amphiphile achieved via esterification of PEG diacid with PEG40stearate. The obtained vesicular systems had spherical shape and a mean diameter of 70 nm. The pH sensitivity was assessed by measuring the variations of particles mean diameter after incubation in media mimicking the physiological (pH 7.4) or tumor (pH 5.0) conditions, recording a significant increase of the vesicles dimensions at acidic pH. The ability of the polymersomes to carry both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs was evaluated by loading the vesicles with curcumin and methotrexate, respectively, obtaining high encapsulation efficiencies and pH-dependent release profiles. The drug-loaded polymeric vesicles exhibited improved cytotoxic potential against MCF-7 cancer cell line and were found to be highly hemocompatible. Finally, cellular uptake experiments on MCF-7 cancer cells were conducted to demonstrate the ability of the designed polymersomes to enhance drug penetration inside the cells.

Anti-proliferative effect of isorhamnetin on HeLa cells through inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest

As a major cancer type in females, cervical cancer has been explored in depth by researchers. HeLa is a cervical cancer cell line. Isorhamnetin is an O-methylated flavonol that is primarily extracted from sea buckthorn. In the present study, the anti-proliferative effect of isorhamnetin on HeLa cells was evaluated using a Trypan blue dye exclusion assay. Isorhamnetin inhibited the cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle distribution revealed that isorhamnetin inhibited the cell cycle progression of HeLa by causing G2/M phase arrest and decreasing the proportion of cells in G1 phase. In addition, western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the presence of certain cell cycle-associated proteins. It was demonstrated that isorhamnetin inhibited the protein expression of cyclin B1, cell division cycle 25C (Cdc25C) and Cdc2, but enhanced checkpoint kinase 2 (Chk2), Cdc25C and Cdc2 phosphorylation. In addition, tubulin depolymerization participated in the isorhamnetin-induced cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase. In conclusion, the present results indicated that the anti-proliferative action of isorhamnetin is associated with arrest of the cell cycle in G2/M phase, which is a consequence of activation of the ataxia telangiectasia mutated Chk2 pathway and disruption of microtubule function.

Liposomal TriCurin, A Synergistic Combination of Curcumin, Epicatechin Gallate and Resveratrol, Repolarizes Tumor-Associated Microglia/Macrophages, and Eliminates Glioblastoma (GBM) and GBM Stem Cells

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a deadly brain tumor with a current mean survival of 12-15 months. Despite being a potent anti-cancer agent, the turmeric ingredient curcumin (C) has limited anti-tumor efficacy in vivo due to its low bioavailability. We have reported earlier a strategy involving the use two other polyphenols, epicatechin gallate (E) from green tea and resveratrol (R) from red grapes at a unique, synergistic molar ratio with C (C:E:R: 4:1:12.5, termed TriCurin) to achieve superior potency against HPV+ tumors than C alone at C:E:R (μM): 32:8:100 (termed 32 μM+ TriCurin). We have now prepared liposomal TriCurin (TrLp) and demonstrated that TrLp boosts activated p53 in cultured GL261 mouse GBM cells to trigger apoptosis of GBM and GBM stem cells in vitro. TrLp administration into mice yielded a stable plasma concentration of 210 nM C for 60 min, which, though sub-lethal for cultured GL261 cells, was able to cause repolarization of M2-like tumor (GBM)-associated microglia/macrophages to the tumoricidal M1-like phenotype and intra-GBM recruitment of activated natural killer cells. The intratumor presence of such tumoricidal immune cells was associated with concomitant suppression of tumor-load, and apoptosis of GBM and GBM stem cells. Thus, TrLp is a potential onco-immunotherapeutic agent against GBM tumors.

Co-carcinogenesis: Human Papillomaviruses, Coal Tar Derivatives, and Squamous Cell Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most common cancers among women worldwide. Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) play a major role in the etiology of CC, with several lines of epidemiologic and experimental evidence supporting a role for non-viral (co-carcinogens) and host genetic factors in controlling the risk for progression to neoplasia among HPV-infected individuals. The role of co-carcinogens in the development of CC is significant in the developing world where poor sanitation and other socio-economic conditions increase the infectious cancer burden. Here, we discuss how exposure to environmental factors such as coal tar derivatives from cigarette smoking, tar-based sanitary products, and inhaled smoke from biomass-burning stoves, could activate host pathways involved in development of HPV-associated squamous cell cancers in resource-limited settings. Understanding interactions between these pathways with certain oncogenic HPV genotypes may guide implementation of strategies for control and treatment of HPV-associated cancers that develop in populations at high risk of exposure to various co-carcinogens.

3-(2-Chloropropyl amide)-4-methoxy-N-phenylbenzamide inhibits expression of HPV oncogenes in human cervical cancer cell

BACKGROUND

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the primary causative agents for cervical cancer, and HPV oncoproteins E6 and E7 are known to be the main reason for the onset and maintenance of the malignancies. Therefore, inhibition of viral E6 and E7 oncoproteins expression represents a viable strategy to cervical cancer therapies. This study is to evaluate the antiviral effect of a novel N-Phenylbenzamide derivative, 3-(2-Chloropropyl amide)-4-methoxy-N-phenylbenzamide (L17), against HPV16 in vitro and identify its associated mechanism of action in cervical cancer cells.

METHODS

The cytotoxic effect of L17 was assessed by MTT assay. The mRNA and protein levels of E6 and E7 oncogenes were analyzed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively. p53 and Rb protein levels were also detected by Western blot. The effect of L17 on cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The cytotoxic effect of L17 was greater in cervical carcinoma cells than in normal cells. L17 significantly reduced the expression of HPV16 E6 and E7 mRNA and protein, at least partly by enhancing degradation of HPV16 E6 and E7 mRNA. Moreover, reduced expression of E6 and E7 induced by L17 resulted in the up-regulation of p53 and Rb expression, which subsequently induced CaSki cells arrest at G₀/G₁ phase.

CONCLUSIONS

L17 has antiviral activity through suppressing E6 and E7 oncogene expression and could inhibit CaSki cell proliferating by inducing cells arrest at G₀/G₁ phase at nontoxic concentration, implying that L17 might be exploited as a candidate agent for HPV-associated cervical cancer prevention and treatment.

Highlights in nanocarriers for the treatment against cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the second most common malignant tumor in women worldwide and has a high mortality rate, especially when it is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV). In US, an estimated 12,820 cases of invasive cervical cancer and an estimated 4210 deaths from this cancer will occur in 2017. With rare and very aggressive conventional treatments, one sees in the real need of new alternatives of therapy as the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents by nanocarriers using nanotechnology. This review covers different drug delivery systems applied in the treatment of cervical cancer, such as solid lipid nanoparticles (SNLs), liposomes, nanoemulsions and polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs). The main advantages of drug delivery thus improving pharmacological activity, improving solubility, bioavailability to bioavailability reducing toxicity in the target tissue by targeting of ligands, thus facilitating new innovative therapeutic technologies in a too much needed area. Among the main disadvantage is the still high cost of production of these nanocarriers. Therefore, the aim this paper is review the nanotechnology based drug delivery systems in the treatment of cervical cancer.

Curcumin as a multifaceted compound against human papilloma virus infection and cervical cancers: A review of chemistry, cellular, molecular, and preclinical features

Curcumin, the bioactive polyphenolic ingredient of turmeric, has been extensively studied for its effects on human papilloma virus (HPV) infection as well as primary and malignant squamous cervical cancers. HPV infections, especially those related to HPV 16 and 18 types, have been established as the leading cause of cervical cancer; however, there are also additional contributory factors involved in the etiopathogenesis of cervical cancers. Curcumin has emerged as having promising chemopreventive and anticancer effects against both HPV-related and nonrelated cervical cancers. In this review, we first discuss the biological relevance of curcumin and both its pharmacological effects and pharmaceutical considerations from a chemical point of view. Next, the signaling pathways that are modulated by curcumin and are relevant to the elimination of HPV infection and treatment of cervical cancer are discussed. We also present counter arguments regarding the effects of curcumin on signaling pathways and molecular markers dysregulated by benzo(a)pyrene (Bap), a carcinogen found in pathological cervical lesions of women who smoke frequently, and estradiol, as two important risk factors involved in persistent HPV-infection and cervical cancer. Finally, various strategies to enhance the pharmacological activity and pharmacokinetic characteristics of curcumin are discussed with examples of studies in experimental models of cervical cancer. © 2016 BioFactors, 43(3):331-346, 2017.

Unique synergistic formulation of curcumin, epicatechin gallate and resveratrol, tricurin, suppresses HPV E6, eliminates HPV+ cancer cells, and inhibits tumor progression

Curcumin (from curry) (C) is highly potent against cervical cancer cells (CCC), but poor bioavailability has limited its clinical use. Similar natural polyphenols resveratrol (from grapes) (R), and epicatechin gallate (from green tea) (E) also display activity against CCC. By treating CCC (HeLa) with C, E, or R, or combinations of these compounds, we computed combination indices and observed a strong synergism among C, E, and R at the unique molar ratio 4:1:12.5. This combination, named as TriCurin, rapidly down regulated HPV18 E6 and NF-kB expression while concomitantly inducing the tumor suppressor protein p53 in HeLa cells. In the mouse c-Ha-ras and HPV16 E6, E7-expressing TC-1 CCC, both C and TriCurin elicited suppression of E6, induction of both p53 and acetyl-p53 (activated p53), and activation of caspase-3, but the TriCurin-evoked changes were several-fold greater than that produced by curcumin (4.7-fold for E6 inhibition, and 2-fold, 6-fold, and 1.7-fold for the induction of p53, acetyl-p53, and active caspase-3, respectively). Consequently, TriCurin was more potent in killing TC-1 and HeLa cells. Intralesional TriCurin treatment of tumors generated in mice by subcutaneously implanting the TC-1 CCC caused an 80–90% decrease in tumor growth. The ability of C to eliminate HeLa cells was significantly stabilized when delivered as TriCurin than when delivered alone. Topical application of TriCurin dispersed in a cream base afforded efficient transfer of C across the skin. Subcutaneous TriCurin injection yielded no adverse effect in tumor-naïve healthy mice. Thus, TriCurin is a safe and promising therapeutic agent against HPV-associated disease.

Phase I dose-escalation trial of intravaginal curcumin in women for cervical dysplasia

BACKGROUND

This is a Phase I trial demonstrating safety and tolerability of intravaginal curcumin for future use in women with cervical neoplasia.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of intravaginal curcumin in healthy women.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a 3+3 dose-escalation Phase I trial in a group of women aged 18-45 years. Thirteen subjects were given one of four doses of curcumin powder (500 mg, 1,000 mg, 1,500 mg, and 2,000 mg) packed in gelatin capsules, which was administered intravaginally daily for 14 days. The primary end point for this study was safety based on severe adverse events regarding laboratory toxicity, clinical findings, and colposcopic abnormalities. We administered an acceptability questionnaire to assess product experience and attributes.

RESULTS

No dose-limiting toxicities (0/13) were experienced (95% confidence interval: 0.0%-22.8%) in this study. The pharmacokinetics data demonstrated that curcumin and curcumin conjugates were not measurable in the serum and negligible in the urine of the study participants. Although 23 adverse events occurred during the course of the trial, all events were grade I based on the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 4.0 and were resolved by the end of the study in an average of 9 days. Fifty-six percent of the adverse events were related to the study drug, which included genital pruritus (23% of subjects), vaginal discharge (100%), vaginal dryness (15%), abnormal prothrombin (23%), and hypokalemia (8%).

CONCLUSION

Intravaginal curcumin was well tolerated by all subjects and safe. In this Phase I trial, there were no severe adverse events observed at any of the administered dose levels. All adverse events were grade I and did not result in early termination of the study. There was no evidence of systemic absorption or significant local absorption of intravaginally administered curcumin.

The Role of Natural Polyphenols in the Prevention and Treatment of Cervical Cancer-An Overview

Cervical cancer represents the second leading cause of death for women worldwide. The importance of the diet and its impact on specific types of neoplasia has been highlighted, focusing again interest in the analysis of dietary phytochemicals. Polyphenols have shown a wide range of cellular effects: they may prevent carcinogens from reaching the targeted sites, support detoxification of reactive molecules, improve the elimination of transformed cells, increase the immune surveillance and the most important factor is that they can influence tumor suppressors and inhibit cellular proliferation, interfering in this way with the steps of carcinogenesis. From the studies reviewed in this paper, it is clear that certain dietary polyphenols hold great potential in the prevention and therapy of cervical cancer, because they interfere in carcinogenesis (in the initiation, development and progression) by modulating the critical processes of cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and metastasis. Specifically, polyphenols inhibit the proliferation of HPV cells, through induction of apoptosis, growth arrest, inhibition of DNA synthesis and modulation of signal transduction pathways. The effects of combinations of polyphenols with chemotherapy and radiotherapy used in the treatment of cervical cancer showed results in the resistance of cervical tumor cells to chemo- and radiotherapy, one of the main problems in the treatment of cervical neoplasia that can lead to failure of the treatment because of the decreased efficiency of the therapy.

Novel p53 therapies for head and neck cancer

Inactivation of the tumor suppressor p53 is the predominant pathogenetic event in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The p53 pathway in HNSCC can be compromised through multiple mechanisms including gene mutations, hyperactivation of endogenous negative p53 regulators and by the human papillomavirus E6 protein. Inactivation of p53 is associated with poor clinical response and outcome; therefore, restoration of the p53 signaling cascade may be an effective approach to ablate HNSCC cells. Viral approaches to restore p53 activity in HNSCC have been well-studied and shown modest activity in clinical trials. Recent work has focused on high-throughput screens and rational designs to identify and develop small molecules to rescue p53 function. Several p53-targeting small molecules have demonstrated very promising activity in pre-clinical studies but have yet progressed to the clinical setting. Further development of p53 therapies, in particular chemical approaches, should be prioritized and evaluated in the HNSCC setting.

Functionalized Silica Nanoparticles As an Alternative Platform for Targeted Drug-Delivery of Water Insoluble Drugs

The selective action of drugs in tumor cells is a major problem in cancer therapy. Most chemotherapy drugs act nonspecifically and damage both cancer and healthy cells causing various side effects. In this study, the preparation of a selective drug delivery system, which is able to act as a carrier for hydrophobic and anticancer drugs is reported. Amino-functionalized silica nanoparticles loaded with curcumin were successfully synthesized via sol-gel approach and duly characterized. Thereafter, the targeting ligand, folate, was covalently attached to amino groups of nanoparticle surface through amide bond formation. The cytotoxic effect of nanoparticles on prostate cancer cells line was evaluated and compared to normal cells line (prostate epithelial cell). Cytotoxicity experiments demonstrated that folate-functionalized nanoparticles were significantly cytotoxic to tumor cells, whereas normal cells were much less affected by the presence of these structures.

Curcumin Nanoformulation for Cervical Cancer Treatment

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide. Current standards of care for cervical cancer includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Conventional chemotherapy fails to elicit therapeutic responses and causes severe systemic toxicity. Thus, developing a natural product based, safe treatment modality would be a highly viable option. Curcumin (CUR) is a well-known natural compound, which exhibits excellent anti-cancer potential by regulating many proliferative, oncogenic, and chemo-resistance associated genes/proteins. However, due to rapid degradation and poor bioavailability, its translational and clinical use has been limited. To improve these clinically relevant parameters, we report a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) based curcumin nanoparticle formulation (Nano-CUR). This study demonstrates that in comparison to free CUR, Nano-CUR effectively inhibits cell growth, induces apoptosis, and arrests the cell cycle in cervical cancer cell lines. Nano-CUR treatment modulated entities such as miRNAs, transcription factors, and proteins associated with carcinogenesis. Moreover, Nano-CUR effectively reduced the tumor burden in a pre-clinical orthotopic mouse model of cervical cancer by decreasing oncogenic miRNA-21, suppressing nuclear β-catenin, and abrogating expression of E6/E7 HPV oncoproteins including smoking compound benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) induced E6/E7 and IL-6 expression. These superior pre-clinical data suggest that Nano-CUR may be an effective therapeutic modality for cervical cancer.

The critical roles of miR-21 in anti-cancer effects of curcumin

Curcumin is a well-known phytochemical that has various anti-cancer effects. Although it has been demonstrated that curcumin can inhibit multiple signalling pathways, the exact mechanisms for its demonstrated anti-cancer effects are not fully understood. Recent studies have revealed that curcumin may affect cancer initiation and progression through regulating microRNAs (miRs). In this review, we focus on the roles of microRNA-21 (miR-21) in the anti-cancer effects of curcumin and regulatory mechanisms for the effects of curcumin on miR-21. MiR-21 mediates various effects of curcumin on cancer cells including proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis and anti-cancer drug resistance. Several downstream pathways of miR-21 have been identified including phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4) and NF-κB pathways. Curcumin decreases miR-21 levels through both increasing miR-21 exosome exclusion from the cells and inhibiting the transcription of the miR-21 gene in the cells by binding to its promoter.

Alginate stabilized gold nanoparticle as multidrug carrier: Evaluation of cellular interactions and hemolytic potential

This work delineates the synthesis of curcumin (Ccm) and methotrexate (MTX) conjugated biopolymer stabilized AuNPs (MP@Alg-Ccm AuNPs). The dual drug conjugated nano-vector was characterized by FTIR, (1)H NMR and UV-vis spectroscopic techniques. Hydrodynamic diameter and surface charge of the AuNPs were determined by DLS analysis and the spherical particles were visualized by TEM. MP@Alg-Ccm AuNPs exhibited improved cytotoxic potential against C6 glioma and MCF-7 cancer cell lines and was found to be highly hemocompatible. MP@Alg-Ccm AuNPs also exhibited active targeting efficiency against MCF-7 cancer cells due to the presence of "antifolate" drug MTX. Thus MP@Alg-Ccm AuNPs may find potential application in targeted combination chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer. The study is also interesting from the synthetic point of view because, here generation of AuNPs was done using "green chemical" alginate and dual drug conjugated AuNPs were created in two simple reaction steps using "green solvent" water.

The Curcumin Analogue 1,5-Bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,4-pentadiene-3-one Induces Apoptosis and Downregulates E6 and E7 Oncogene Expression in HPV16 and HPV18-Infected Cervical Cancer Cells

In an effort to study curcumin analogues as an alternative to improve the therapeutic efficacy of curcumin, we screened the cytotoxic potential of four diarylpentanoids using the HeLa and CaSki cervical cancer cell lines. Determination of their EC₅₀ values indicated relatively higher potency of 1,5-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,4-pentadiene-3-one (MS17, 1.03 ± 0.5 μM; 2.6 ± 0.9 μM) and 1,5-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,4-pentadiene-3-one (MS13, 2.8 ± 0.4; 6.7 ± 2.4 μM) in CaSki and HeLa, respectively, with significantly greater growth inhibition at 48 and 72 h of treatment compared to the other analogues or curcumin. Based on cytotoxic and anti-proliferative activity, MS17 was selected for comprehensive apoptotic studies. At 24 h of treatment, fluorescence microscopy detected that MS17-exposed cells exhibited significant morphological changes consistent with apoptosis, corroborated by an increase in nucleosomal enrichment due to DNA fragmentation in HeLa and CaSki cells and activation of caspase-3 activity in CaSki cells. Quantitative real-time PCR also detected significant down-regulation of HPV18- and HPV16-associated E6 and E7 oncogene expression following treatment. The overall data suggests that MS17 treatment has cytotoxic, anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing potential in HPV-positive cervical cancer cells. Furthermore, its role in down-regulation of HPV-associated oncogenes responsible for cancer progression merits further investigation into its chemotherapeutic role for cervical cancer.

Human Papillomavirus: Current and Future RNAi Therapeutic Strategies for Cervical Cancer

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are small DNA viruses; some oncogenic ones can cause different types of cancer, in particular cervical cancer. HPV-associated carcinogenesis provides a classical model system for RNA interference (RNAi) based cancer therapies, because the viral oncogenes E6 and E7 that cause cervical cancer are expressed only in cancerous cells. Previous studies on the development of therapeutic RNAi facilitated the advancement of therapeutic siRNAs and demonstrated its versatility by siRNA-mediated depletion of single or multiple cellular/viral targets. Sequence-specific gene silencing using RNAi shows promise as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of a variety of diseases that currently lack effective treatments. However, siRNA-based targeting requires further validation of its efficacy in vitro and in vivo, for its potential off-target effects, and of the design of conventional therapies to be used in combination with siRNAs and their drug delivery vehicles. In this review we discuss what is currently known about HPV-associated carcinogenesis and the potential for combining siRNA with other treatment strategies for the development of future therapies. Finally, we present our assessment of the most promising path to the development of RNAi therapeutic strategies for clinical settings.

Tobacco smoke activates human papillomavirus 16 p97 promoter and cooperates with high-risk E6/E7 for oxidative DNA damage in lung cells

We have previously shown a functional interaction between human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) E6 and E7 oncoproteins and cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) in lung cells suggesting cooperation during carcinogenesis. The molecular mechanisms of such interaction, however, remain to be elucidated. Here we first present evidence showing that cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) has the ability to activate the HPV-16 p97 promoter by acting on the long control region (LCR) in lung epithelial cells. Interestingly, we observed that CSC-induced p97 promoter activation occurs in a dose-dependent manner in both tumor A-549 (lung adenocarcinoma), H-2170 (bronchial carcinoma), SiHa or Hela (cervical carcinoma) cells but not in non-tumor BEAS-2B (bronchial) or NL-20 (alveolar) lung cells unless they ectopically expressed the HPV-16 E6 and E7 oncogenes. In addition, we also observed a significant increase of primary DNA damage in tumor and non-tumor CSC-treated lung cells expressing HPV-16 E6 and E7 oncogenes suggesting a cooperative effect in this process, even though the contribution of E7 was significantly higher. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that tobacco smoke is able to induce the activation of the HPV-16 p97 promoter in cooperation with HPV-16 E6 and E7 oncogenes that, in turn, sensitize lung cells to tobacco smoke-induced DNA damage.