The curcuminoid CLEFMA selectively induces cell death in H441 lung adenocarcinoma cells via oxidative stress

Curcumin in human osteosarcoma: From analogs to carriers

Osteosarcoma (osteogenic sarcoma), the most prevalent primary malignant bone tumor in adolescents, confers low survival rates in patients with metastatic disease. Dietary curcumin has a number of anticancer properties but has poor bioavailability. To improve the clinical applications of curcumin, several potential curcumin analogs and nanobased curcumin delivery systems have been developed. In this critical review, we address the biological and pharmacological characteristics of curcumin and its analogs, with an emphasis on strategies to improve the bioactivity and bioavailability of curcumin analogs that may increase their application in the treatment of potent human metastatic osteosarcoma. We highlight promising current multifunctional nanoformulations and three-dimensional printed scaffold systems utilized for the targeting and delivery of curcumin in human osteosarcoma cells. Our purpose is to drive further research on curcumin analogs and carriers to improve their bioavailability and anti-osteosarcoma bioactivity.

CLEFMA induces intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways through ERK1/2 and p38 signalling in uterine cervical cancer cells

Although concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the cornerstone of treatment for locally advanced or recurrent uterine cervical cancer, treatment fails at a high rate. Therefore, the development of novel targeting agents is critical. This study investigated the action of CLEFMA, a potent, synthetic curcumin derivative, on cervical cancer cells and its mechanism of action. We found that CLEFMA negatively regulated the viability of cervical cancer cells, involving induction of cell apoptosis. Cleaved caspase-3, cleaved poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase, cleaved caspase-8, and cleaved caspase-9 expression were increased by treatment with CLEFMA. After U0126 (ERK1/2 inhibitor) and SB203580 (p38 inhibitor) were applied as cotreatment with CLEFMA, the expression of cleaved caspase-8, -9, and -3 was reduced significantly. In conclusion, CLEFMA activates both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways through ERK1/2 and p38 signal transduction in cervical cancer cells.

Curcumin and its Analogs and Carriers: Potential Therapeutic Strategies for Human Osteosarcoma

Curcumin is a natural polyphenol phytochemical derived from turmeric with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties but is concerned about poor solubility in water, absorption, and metabolic stability. Potent metastatic osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone cancer in children, adolescents, and young adults. It is responsible for low survival rates because of its high rate of metastasis to the lungs. To improve poor bioavailability, numerous curcumin analogs were developed to possess anticancer characteristics through a variety of biological pathways involved in cytotoxicity, proliferation, autophagy, sensitizing chemotherapy, and metastases. This review provides an overview of their various pharmacological functions, molecular mechanisms, and therapeutic potential as a remedy for human osteosarcoma. To enhance therapeutic efficacy, several liposomal nanoparticles, nanocarriers, multifunctional micelles, and three-dimensional printed scaffolds have also been developed for the controlled delivery of curcumin targeting human osteosarcoma cells. Consequently, curcumin and several potential analogs and delivery formulations are optimistic candidates to improve the currently available strategy for human osteosarcoma. However, further insight into the mechanism of action of promising curcumin analogs and the development of carriers in clinical trials of osteosarcoma needs to be investigated to improve their overall potency and clinical utility, in particular the anti-metastatic effect.

Inducing ferroptosis has the potential to overcome therapy resistance in breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common type of malignancy among women. Due to the iron-dependent character of breast cancer cells, they are more sensitive to ferroptosis compared to normal cells. It is possible to reverse tumor resistance by inducing ferroptosis in breast cancer cells, thereby improving tumor treatment outcomes. Ferroptosis is highly dependent on the balance of oxidative and antioxidant status. When ferroptosis occurs, intracellular iron levels are significantly increased, leading to increased membrane lipid peroxidation and ultimately triggering ferroptosis. Ferroptotic death is a form of autophagy-associated cell death. Synergistic use of nanoparticle-loaded ferroptosis-inducer with radiotherapy and chemotherapy achieves more significant tumor suppression and inhibits the growth of breast cancer by targeting cancer tissues, enhancing the sensitivity of cells to drugs, reducing the drug resistance of cancer cells and the toxicity of drugs. In this review, we present the current status of breast cancer and the mechanisms of ferroptosis. It is hopeful for us to realize effective treatment of breast cancer through targeted ferroptosis.

Research Trend and Detailed Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms of Food Bioactive Compounds against Cancer: A Comprehensive Review with Special Emphasis on Probiotics

In an attempt to find a potential cure for cancer, scientists have been probing the efficacy of the food we eat and its bioactive components. Over the decades, there has been an exponentially increasing trend of research correlating food and cancer. This review explains the molecular mechanisms by which bioactive food components exhibit anticancer effects in several cancer models. These bioactive compounds are mainly plant based or microbiome based. While plants remain the primary source of these phytochemicals, little is known about probiotics, i.e., microbiome sources, and their relationships with cancer. Thus, the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effect of probiotics are discussed in this review. The principal mode of cell death for most food bioactives is found to be apoptosis. Principal oncogenic signaling axes such as Akt/PI3K, JAK/STAT, and NF-κB seem to be modulated due to these bioactives along with certain novel targets that provide a platform for further oncogenic research. It has been observed that probiotics have an immunomodulatory effect leading to their chemopreventive actions. Various foods exhibit better efficacy as complete extracts than their individual phytochemicals, indicating an orchestrated effect of the food components. Combining bioactive agents with available chemotherapies helps synergize the anticancer action of both to overcome drug resistance. Novel techniques to deliver bioactive agents enhance their therapeutic response. Such combinations and novel approaches are also discussed in this review. Notably, most of the food components that have been studied for cancer have shown their efficacy in vivo. This bolsters the claims of these studies and, thus, provides us with hope of discovering anticancer agents in the food that we eat.

Novel cyclic C5-curcuminoids penetrating the blood-brain barrier: Design, synthesis and antiproliferative activity against astrocytoma and neuroblastoma cells

Novel series of cyclic C₅-curcuminoids 17a-j and 19-22 were prepared as cytotoxic agents and evaluated against human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) or human grade IV astrocytoma (CCF-STTG1) cell lines in low (∼0.1 nM - 10 nM) concentrations. Among the tested 21 derivatives, 16 displayed potent antiproliferative activity with IC₅₀ values in the low nanomolar to picomolar range (IC₅₀ = 7.483-0.139 nM). Highly active compounds like N-monocarboxylic derivative 19b with IC₅₀ = 0.139 nM value against neuroblastoma and N-alkyl substituted 11 with IC₅₀ = 0.257 nM against astrocytoma proved some degree of selectivity toward non-cancerous astrocytes and kidney cells. This potent anticancer activity did not show a strong correlation with experimental logP_TLC values, but the most potent antiproliferative molecules 11-13 and 19-22 are belonging to discrete subgroups of the cyclic C₅-curcuminoids. Compounds 12, 17c and 19b were subjected to blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration studies, too. The BBB was revealed to be permeable for all of them but, as the apparent permeability coefficient (P_app) values mirrored, in different ratios. Lower toxicity of 12, 17c and 19b was observed toward primary rat brain endothelial cells of the BBB model, which means they remained undamaged under 10 µM concentrations. Penetration depends, at least in part, on albumin binding of 12, 17c and 19b and the presence of monocarboxylic acid transporters in the case of 19b. Permeation through the BBB and albumin binding, we described here, is the first example of cyclic C₅-curcuminoids as to our knowledge.

Anticancer Applications and Pharmacological Properties of Piperidine and Piperine: A Comprehensive Review on Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives

Piperine and piperidine are the two major alkaloids extracted from black pepper (Piper nigrum); piperidine is a heterocyclic moiety that has the molecular formula (CH₂)₅NH. Over the years, many therapeutic properties including anticancer potential of these two compounds have been observed. Piperine has therapeutic potential against cancers such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, gliomal cancer, lung cancer, oral squamous, chronic pancreatitis, prostate cancer, rectal cancer, cervical cancer, and leukemia. Whereas, piperidine acts as a potential clinical agent against cancers, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, and ovarian cancer, when treated alone or in combination with some novel drugs. Several crucial signalling pathways essential for the establishment of cancers such as STAT-3, NF-κB, PI3k/Aκt, JNK/p38-MAPK, TGF-ß/SMAD, Smac/DIABLO, p-IκB etc., are regulated by these two phytochemicals. Both of these phytochemicals lead to inhibition of cell migration and help in cell cycle arrest to inhibit survivability of cancer cells. The current review highlights the pharmaceutical relevance of both piperine and piperidine against different types of cancers.

Potential of natural products in osteosarcoma treatment: Focus on molecular mechanisms

Osteosarcoma is the most frequent type of bone cancer found in children and adolescents, and commonly arises in the metaphyseal region of tubular long bones. Standard therapeutic approaches, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, are used in the management of osteosarcoma. In recent years, the mortality rate of osteosarcoma has decreased due to advances in treatment methods. Today, the scientific community is investigating the use of different naturally derived active principles against various types of cancer. Natural bioactive compounds can function against cancer cells in two ways. Firstly they can act as classical cytotoxic compounds by non-specifically affecting macromolecules, such as DNA, enzymes, and microtubules, which are also expressed in normal proliferating cells, but to a greater extent by cancer cells. Secondly, they can act against oncogenic signal transduction pathways, many of which are activated in cancer cells. Some bioactive plant-derived agents are gaining increasing attention because of their anti-cancer properties. Moreover, some naturally-derived compounds can significantly promote the effectiveness of standard chemotherapy drugs, and in certain cases are able to ameliorate drug-induced adverse effects caused by chemotherapy. In the present review we summarize the effects of various naturally-occurring bioactive compounds against osteosarcoma.

Perspectives for synthetic curcumins in chemoprevention and treatment of cancer: An update with promising analogues

Curcumin, a pure compound extracted from the flowering plant, turmeric (Curcuma longa. Zingiberaceae), is a common dietary ingredient found in curry powder. It has been studied extensively for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-tumour activities. Evidence is accumulating demonstrating its potential in chemoprevention and as an anti-tumour agent for the treatment of cancer. Despite demonstrated safety and tolerability, the clinical application of curcumin is frustrated by its poor solubility, metabolic instability and low oral bioavailability. Consequently researchers have tried novel techniques of formulation and delivery as well as synthesis of analogues with enhanced properties to overcome these barriers. This review presents the synthetic analogues of curcumin that have proven their anticancer potential from different studies. It also highlights studies that combined these analogues with approved chemotherapies and delivered them via novel techniques. Currently, there are no reports of clinical studies on any of the synthetic congeners of curcumin and this presents an opportunity for future research. This review presents the synthetic analogues of curcumin and makes a compelling argument for their potential application in the management of cancerous disease.

Anti-Cancer and Ototoxicity Characteristics of the Curcuminoids, CLEFMA and EF24, in Combination with Cisplatin

In this study, we investigated whether the curcuminoids, CLEFMA and EF24, improved cisplatin efficacy and reduced cisplatin ototoxicity. We used the lung cancer cell line, A549, to determine the effects of the curcuminoids and cisplatin on cell viability and several apoptotic signaling mechanisms. Cellular viability was measured using the MTT assay. A scratch assay was used to measure cell migration and fluorescent spectrophotometry to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Western blots and luminescence assays were used to measure the expression and activity of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), caspases-3/7, -8, -9, and -12, c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase (Src). A zebrafish model was used to evaluate auditory effects. Cisplatin, the curcuminoids, and their combinations had similar effects on cell viability (IC₅₀ values: 2-16 μM) and AIF, caspase-12, JNK, MAPK, and Src expression, while caspase-3/7, -8, and -9 activity was unchanged or decreased. Cisplatin increased ROS yield (1.2-fold), and curcuminoid and combination treatments reduced ROS (0.75-0.85-fold). Combination treatments reduced A549 migration (0.51-0.53-fold). Both curcuminoids reduced auditory threshold shifts induced by cisplatin. In summary, cisplatin and the curcuminoids might cause cell death through AIF and caspase-12. The curcuminoids may potentiate cisplatin's effect against A549 migration, but may counteract cisplatin's effect to increase ROS production. The curcuminoids might also prevent cisplatin ototoxicity.

CLEFMA Activates the Extrinsic and Intrinsic Apoptotic Processes through JNK1/2 and p38 Pathways in Human Osteosarcoma Cells

Due to the poor prognosis of metastatic osteosarcoma, chemotherapy is usually employed in the adjuvant situation to improve the prognosis and the chances of long-term survival. 4-[3,5-Bis(2-chlorobenzylidene)-4-oxo-piperidine-1-yl]-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid (CLEFMA) is a synthetic analog of curcumin and possesses anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. To further obtain information regarding the apoptotic pathway induced by CLEFMA in osteosarcoma cells, microculture tetrazolium assay, annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis staining assay, human apoptosis array, and Western blotting were employed. CLEFMA dose-dependently decreased the cell viabilities of human osteosarcoma U2OS and HOS cells and significantly induced apoptosis in human osteosarcoma cells. In addition to the effector caspase 3, CLEFMA significantly activated both extrinsic caspase 8 and intrinsic caspase 9 initiators. Moreover, CLEFMA increased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK)1/2, c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK)1/2 and p38. Using inhibitors of JNK (JNK-in-8) and p38 (SB203580), CLEFMA’s increases of cleaved caspases 3, 8, and 9 could be expectedly suppressed, but they could not be affected by co-treatment with the ERK inhibitor (U0126). Conclusively, CLEFMA activates both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways in human osteosarcoma cells through JNK and p38 signaling. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for CLEFMA’s apoptotic effects on human osteosarcoma cells.

The curcuminoid, EF-24, reduces cisplatin-mediated reactive oxygen species in zebrafish inner ear auditory and vestibular tissues

Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapy drug that can damage auditory and vestibular tissue and cause hearing and balance loss through the intracellular release of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Curcumin has anticancer efficacy and can also counteract cisplatin's damaging effect against sensory tissue by scavenging intracellular ROS, but curcumin's applicability is limited due to its low bioavailability. EF-24 is a synthetic curcumin analog that is more bioavailable than curcumin and can target cancer, but its effects against cisplatin-mediated ROS in auditory and vestibular tissue is currently unknown. In this study, we employed a novel zebrafish inner ear tissue culture system to determine if EF-24 counteracted cisplatin-mediated ROS release in two sensory endorgans, the saccule and the utricle. The zebrafish saccule is associated with auditory function and the utricle with vestibular function. Trimmed endorgans were placed in tissue culture media with a fluorescent reactive oxygen species indicator dye, and intracellular ROS release was measured using a spectrophotometer. We found that cisplatin treatment significantly increased ROS compared to controls, but that EF-24 treatment did not alter or even decreased ROS. Importantly, when equimolar cisplatin and EF-24 treatments are combined, ROS did not increase compared to controls. This suggests that EF-24 may be able to prevent intracellular ROS caused by cisplatin treatment in inner ear tissue.

Bisdemethoxycurcumin exerts pro-apoptotic effects in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells through mitochondrial dysfunction and a GRP78-dependent pathway

Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy, which is intrinsically resistant to current chemotherapies. Herein, we investigate whether bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), a derivative of curcumin, potentiates gemcitabine in human pancreatic cancer cells. The result suggests that BDMC sensitizes gemcitabine by inducing mitochondrial dysfunctions and apoptosis in PANC-1 and MiaPaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells. Utilizing two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, we identify 13 essential proteins with significantly altered expressions in response to gemcitabine alone or combined with BDMC. Protein-protein interaction network analysis pinpoints glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) as the key hub activated by BDMC. We then reveal that BDMC upregulates GRP78 and facilitates apoptosis through eIF2α/CHOP pathway. Moreover, DJ-1 and prohibitin, two identified markers of chemoresistance, are increased by gemcitabine in PANC-1 cells. This could be meaningfully reversed by BDMC, suggesting that BDMC partially offsets the chemoresistance induced by gemcitabine. In summary, these findings show that BDMC promotes apoptosis through a GRP78-dependent pathway and mitochondrial dysfunctions, and potentiates the antitumor effect of gemcitabine in human pancreatic cancer cells.

Curcumin affects gene expression and reactive oxygen species via a PKA dependent mechanism in Dictyostelium discoideum

Botanicals are widely used as dietary supplements and for the prevention and treatment of disease. Despite a long history of use, there is generally little evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of these preparations. Curcumin has been used to treat a myriad of human diseases and is widely advertised and marketed for its ability to improve health, but there is no clear understanding how curcumin interacts with cells and affects cell physiology. D. discoideum is a simple eukaryotic lead system that allows both tractable genetic and biochemical studies. The studies reported here show novel effects of curcumin on cell proliferation and physiology, and a pleiotropic effect on gene transcription. Transcriptome analysis showed that the effect is two-phased with an early transient effect on the transcription of approximately 5% of the genome, and demonstrates that cells respond to curcumin through a variety of previously unknown molecular pathways. This is followed by later unique transcriptional changes and a protein kinase A dependent decrease in catalase A and three superoxide dismutase enzymes. Although this results in an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS; superoxide and H2O2), the effects of curcumin on transcription do not appear to be the direct result of oxidation. This study opens the door to future explorations of the effect of curcumin on cell physiology.

Stability study on an anti-cancer drug 4-(3,5-bis(2-chlorobenzylidene)-4-oxo-piperidine-1-yl)-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid (CLEFMA) using a stability-indicating HPLC method

CLEFMA, 4-(3,5-bis(2-chlorobenzylidene)-4-oxo-piperidine-1-yl)-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid, is a new chemical entity with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Here, we report its stability in solution against stress conditions of exposure to acid/base, light, oxidant, high temperature, and plasma. The identity of the degradation products was ascertained by mass and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. To facilitate this study, we developed and validated a reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography method for detection of CLEFMA and its degradation. The method was linear over a range of 1–100 µg/mL; the accuracy and precision were within acceptable limits; it was stability-indicating as it successfully separated cis-/trans-isomers of CLEFMA as well as its degradation product. The major degradation product was produced from amide hydrolysis at maleic acid functionality caused by an acidic buffer, oxidant (3% hydrogen peroxide), or temperature stress (40–60 °C). The log k-pH profile showed that CLEFMA was most stable at neutral pH. In accelerated stability study we found that the shelf-life (T_90%) of CLEFMA at 25 °C and 4 °C was 45 days and 220 days, respectively. Upon exposure to UV-light (365 nm), the normally prevalent trans-CLEFMA attained cis-configuration. This isomerization also involved the maleic acid moiety. CLEFMA was stable in plasma from which it could be efficiently extracted by an acetonitrile precipitation method. These results indicate that CLEFMA is sensitive to hydrolytic cleavage at its maleic acid moiety, and it is recommended that its samples should be stored under refrigerated and light-free conditions, and under inert environment.

Targeting cancer stem cells and signaling pathways by phytochemicals: Novel approach for breast cancer therapy

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in women worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the USA. Despite the development of newer diagnostic methods, selective as well as targeted chemotherapies and their combinations, surgery, hormonal therapy, radiotherapy, breast cancer recurrence, metastasis and drug resistance are still the major problems for breast cancer. Emerging evidence suggest the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), a population of cells with the capacity to self-renew, differentiate and be capable of initiating and sustaining tumor growth. In addition, CSCs are believed to be responsible for cancer recurrence, anticancer drug resistance, and metastasis. Hence, compounds targeting breast CSCs may be better therapeutic agents for treating breast cancer and control recurrence and metastasis. Naturally occurring compounds, mainly phytochemicals have gained immense attention in recent times because of their wide safety profile, ability to target heterogeneous populations of cancer cells as well as CSCs, and their key signaling pathways. Therefore, in the present review article, we summarize our current understanding of breast CSCs and their signaling pathways, and the phytochemicals that affect these cells including curcumin, resveratrol, tea polyphenols (epigallocatechin-3-gallate, epigallocatechin), sulforaphane, genistein, indole-3-carbinol, 3, 3'-di-indolylmethane, vitamin E, retinoic acid, quercetin, parthenolide, triptolide, 6-shogaol, pterostilbene, isoliquiritigenin, celastrol, and koenimbin. These phytochemicals may serve as novel therapeutic agents for breast cancer treatment and future leads for drug development.

Nanotechnology applications in thoracic surgery

Nanotechnology is an emerging, rapidly evolving field with the potential to significantly impact care across the full spectrum of cancer therapy. Of note, several recent nanotechnological advances show particular promise to improve outcomes for thoracic surgical patients. A variety of nanotechnologies are described that offer possible solutions to existing challenges encountered in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. Nanotechnology-based imaging platforms have the ability to improve the surgical care of patients with thoracic malignancies through technological advances in intraoperative tumour localization, lymph node mapping and accuracy of tumour resection. Moreover, nanotechnology is poised to revolutionize adjuvant lung cancer therapy. Common chemotherapeutic drugs, such as paclitaxel, docetaxel and doxorubicin, are being formulated using various nanotechnologies to improve drug delivery, whereas nanoparticle (NP)-based imaging technologies can monitor the tumour microenvironment and facilitate molecularly targeted lung cancer therapy. Although early nanotechnology-based delivery systems show promise, the next frontier in lung cancer therapy is the development of 'theranostic' multifunctional NPs capable of integrating diagnosis, drug monitoring, tumour targeting and controlled drug release into various unifying platforms. This article provides an overview of key existing and emerging nanotechnology platforms that may find clinical application in thoracic surgery in the near future.

Preclinical evaluation of 4-[3,5-bis(2-chlorobenzylidene)-4-oxo-piperidine-1-yl]-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid, in a mouse model of lung cancer xenograft

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

4-[3,5-Bis(2-chlorobenzylidene)-4-oxo-piperidine-1-yl]-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid CLEFMA is a new anti-cancer molecule. Here, we investigated changes in apoptosis and inflammatory markers during CLEFMA-induced tumour suppression.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Lung adenocarcinoma H441 and A549, and normal lung fibroblast CCL151 cell lines were used, along with a xenograft model of H441 cells implanted in mice. Tumour tissues were analysed by immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry and/or biochemical assays. The ex vivo results were confirmed by performing selected assays in cultured cells.

KEY RESULTS

CLEFMA-induced cell death was associated with cleavage of caspases 3/9 and PARP. In vivo, CLEFMA treatment resulted in a dose-dependent suppression of tumour growth and (18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in tumours, along with a reduction in the expression of the proliferation marker Ki-67. In tumour tissue homogenates, the anti-apoptotic markers (cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-1(cIAP1), Bcl-xL, Bcl-2, and survivin) were inhibited and the pro-apoptotic Bax and BID were up-regulated. Further, CLEFMA decreased translocation of phospho-p65-NF-κB into the nucleus. In vitro, it inhibited the DNA-binding and transcriptional activity of NF-κB. It also reduced the expression of COX-2 in tumours and significantly depressed serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels. These effects of CLEFMA were accompanied by a reduced transcription and/or translation of the invasion markers VEGF, MMP9, MMP10, Cyclin D1 and ICAM-1.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Overall, CLEFMA inhibited growth of lung cancer xenografts and this tumour suppression was associated with NF-κB-regulated anti-inflammatory and anti-metastatic effects.

Curcuma Contra Cancer? Curcumin and Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Curcumin, a phytochemical isolated from curcuma plants which are used as coloring ingredient for the preparation of curry powder, has several activities which suggest that it might be an interesting drug for the treatment or prevention of cancer. Curcumin targets different pathways which are involved in the malignant phenotype of tumor cells, including the nuclear factor kappa B (NFKB) pathway. This pathway is deregulated in multiple tumor entities, including Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL). Indeed, curcumin can inhibit growth of HL cell lines and increases the sensitivity of these cells for cisplatin. In this review we summarize curcumin activities with special focus on possible activities against HL cells.

Anticancer activity of an imageable curcuminoid 1-[2-aminoethyl-(6-hydrazinopyridine-3-carbamidyl)-3,5-bis-(2-fluorobenzylidene)-4-piperidone (EFAH)

3,5-Bis(2-fluorobenzylidine)-4-piperidone or EF24 is a potent anticancer derivative of curcumin. Using an amine derivative of EF24, we synthesized a hydrazinonicotinic acid conjugate, EFAH, for Tc-99m radiolabelling and single photon emission tomography imaging. The aqueous solubility of EFAH (3.5 mg/mL) was significantly more than that of EF24 (1.2 mg/mL); the octanol/water partition coefficient of EFAH was estimated at log P = 0.33. As an antiproliferative agent, EFAH was as effective as EF24 in suppressing the proliferation of H441, MiaPaCa-2 and Panc-1 cells. Daily intraperitoneal injection of EFAH (5 μg) for 3 weeks in mice carrying xenografts of Panc-1 pancreatic cancer showed a mean tumour volume reduction of 79%; the tumour weight decreased by 82% in the treated group. For imaging and biodistribution, EFAH was labelled with Tc-99m (98% RCY) and intravenously administered in rats. Approximately 23.7% and 14.3% of injected dose accumulated in liver and intestine, respectively, suggesting that EFAH is mostly eliminated by hepatobiliary route. The results indicate that HYNIC modification of EF24 for Tc-99m radiolabelling does not affect its antiproliferative efficacy. For the first time, a visual biodisposition of EF24 in a live animal model has been demonstrated. Such knowledge could be of benefit in developing therapeutic curcuminoids, such as EF24.