Curcumin as an Adjuvant to Cancer Immunotherapy

Reactive oxygen species/glutathione dual sensitive nanoparticles with encapsulation of miR155 and curcumin for synergized cancer immunotherapy

Considerable attention has been directed towards exploring the potential efficacy of miR-155 in the realm of cancer immunotherapy. Elevated levels of miR-155 in dendritic cells (DCs) have been shown to enhance their maturation, migration, cytokine secretion, and their ability to promote T cell activation. In addition, overexpression of mir155 in M2 macrophages boost the polarization towards the M1 phenotype. Conversely, miR-155 has the propensity to induce the accumulation of immunosuppressive cells like regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in the tumor tissue. To account for this discrepancy, it is imperative to get help from a drug that could deal with immunosuppressive effect. Curcumin (CUR) exhibits the capacity to prompt Tregs converse into T helper 1 cells, fostering the polarization of M2 tumor-associated macrophage towards the M1 phenotype, and impeding the recruitment and aggregation of MDSCs within the tumor microenvironment. Nonetheless, CUR is known to exert an immunosuppressive impact on DCs by hindering the expression of maturation markers, cytokines, and chemokines, thereby prevent DCs response to immunostimulatory agents. Hence, a reactive oxygen species/glutathione dual responsive drug conveyance platform (CUR/miR155@DssD-Hb NPs) was devised to co-deliver CUR and miR155, with the aim of exploring their synergistic potential in bolstering a sustained and robust anti-tumor immune response. In vitro and in vivo results have suggested that CUR/miR155@DssD-Hb NPs can effectively inhibit the viability of 4T1 and B16F10 tumor cells, trigger the release of damage associated molecular patterns, stimulate DCs maturation, subsequent activation of CD8+ T cells, diminish immunosuppressive cell populations (MDSCs, Tregs, M2 TAMs and exhausted T cells), promote the formation of long-term immunity and lessen the formation of metastatic nodules in the lungs. In summary, the co-delivery system integrating CUR and miR155 (CUR/miR155@DssD-Hb NPs) demonstrates promise as a promising strategy for the immunotherapy of melanoma and triple negative breast cancer.

Exploring Curcumin-Loaded Lipid-Based Nanomedicine as Efficient Targeted Therapy for Alzheimer's Diseases

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurological condition currently with 47 million people suffering from it globally. AD might have many reasons such as genetic issues, environmental factors, and Aβ accumulation, which is the biomarker of the disease. Since the primary reason is unknown, there is no targeted treatment at the moment, but ongoing research aims to slow its progression by managing amyloid-beta peptide production rather than symptomatic improvement. Since phytochemicals have been demonstrated to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, they may target multiple pathological factors and can reduce the risk of the disease. Curcumin, as a phytochemical found in turmeric known for its antioxidant, free radical scavenging properties, and as an antiamyloid in treating AD, has come under investigation. Although its low bioavailability limits its efficacy, a prominent drug delivery system (DDS) is desired to overcome it. Hence, the potency of lipid-based nanoparticles encapsulating curcumin (LNPs-CUR) is considered in this study as a promising DDS. In vivo studies in animal models indicate LNPs-CUR effectively slow amyloid plaque formation, leading to cognitive enhancement and reduced toxicity compared to free CUR. However, a deeper understanding of CUR's pharmacokinetics and safety profile is crucial before LNPs-CUR can be considered as a medicine. Future investigations may explore the combination of NPs with other therapeutic agents to increase their efficacy in AD cases. This review provides the current position of CUR in the AD therapy paradigm, the DDS suggestions for CUR, and the previous research from the point of analytical view focused on the advantages and challenges.

Evaluation of Immunohistochemical Biomarkers in Diabetic Wistar Rats with Periodontal Disease

BACKGROUND

The association of periodontal disease and diabetes is a subject of intense research in terms of etiopathology and treatment options. This research aimed to evaluate the modulation of the local inflammatory status by two natural extracts, curcumin (Cu) and rutin (R), in an experimentally induced diabetes and periodontal disease in Wistar rats.

METHODS

Fifty Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to five groups: Control (C), Diabetes-associated Periodontal Disease (DP), Diabetes-associated Periodontal Disease treated with Curcumin (DPCu), Diabetes-associated Periodontal Disease treated with Rutin (DPR), and Diabetes-associated Periodontal Disease treated with both Curcumin and Rutin (DPCuR). Gingival samples were collected from all rats, and immunohistochemical markers CD3, CD20, and CD34 were evaluated to assess the local inflammatory infiltrate. Descriptive statistics were applied (SPSS24 Software, Armonk, NY, USA).

RESULTS

Rutin, alone or combined with Curcumin, reduced CD3-positive cell levels. Curcumin demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing CD20-positive cells. The combination of Curcumin and Rutin had the most important impact on both markers. Curcumin notably increased immature CD34-positive cell levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Curcumin and Rutin, either alone or together, hold potential for reducing local inflammation in diabetes-induced periodontal disease in Wistar rats.

Enhanced CTLA-4 blockade anti-tumor immunity with APG-157 combination in a murine head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

A phase I clinical study for patients with locally advanced H&N cancer with a new class of botanical drug APG-157 provided hints of potential synergy with immunotherapy. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of the combination of APG-157 and immune checkpoint inhibitors.

METHODS

CCL23, UM-SCC1 (human), and SCCVII (HPV-), MEER (HPV+) (murine) H&N cancer cell lines were utilized for in vitro and in vivo studies. We measured tumor growth by treating the mice with APG-157, anti-PD-1, and anti-CTLA-4 antibody combinations (8 groups). The tumor microenvironments were assessed by multi-color flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and RNA-seq analysis. Fecal microbiome was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequence.

RESULTS

Among the eight treatment groups, APG-157 + anti-CTLA-4 demonstrated the best tumor growth suppression (p = 0.0065 compared to the control), followed by anti-PD-1 + anti-CTLA-4 treatment group (p = 0.48 compared to the control). Immunophenotype showed over 30% of CD8+ T cells in APG-157 + anti-CTLA-4 group compared to 4%-5% of CD8+ T cells for the control group. Differential gene expression analysis revealed that APG-157 + anti-CTLA-4 group showed an enriched set of genes for inflammatory response and apoptotic signaling pathways. The fecal microbiome analysis showed a substantial difference of lactobacillus genus among groups, highest for APG-157 + anti-CTLA-4 treatment group. We were unable to perform correlative studies for MEER model as there was tumor growth suppression with all treatment conditions, except for the untreated control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that APG-157 and immune checkpoint inhibitor combination treatment could potentially lead to improved tumor control.

Curcumin Analog L48H37 Induces Apoptosis in Human Oral Cancer Cells by Activating Caspase Cascades and Downregulating the Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins through JNK/p38 Signaling

L48H37 is a synthetic curcumin analog that has anticancer potentials. Here, we further explored the anticancer effect of L48H37 on oral cancer cells and its mechanistic acts. Cell cycle distribution was assessed using flow cytometric analysis. Apoptosis was elucidated by staining with PI/Annexin V and activation of the caspase cascade. Cellular signaling was explored using apoptotic protein profiling, Western blotting, and specific inhibitors. Our findings showed that L48H37 significantly reduced the cell viability of SCC-9 and HSC-3 cells, resulting in sub-G1 phase accumulation and increased apoptotic cells. Apoptotic protein profiling revealed that L48H37 increased cleaved caspase-3, and downregulated cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1 (cIAP1) and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) in SCC-9 cells, and the downregulated cIAP1 and XIAP in both oral cancer cells were also demonstrated by Western blotting. Meanwhile, L48H37 triggered the activation of caspases and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). The involvement of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK (p38) in the L48H37-triggered apoptotic cascade in oral cancer cells was also elucidated by specific inhibitors. Collectively, these findings indicate that L48H37 has potent anticancer activity against oral cancer cells, which may be attributed to JNK/p38-mediated caspase activation and the resulting apoptosis. This suggests a potential benefit for L48H37 for the treatment of oral cancer.

Curcumin for Treating Breast Cancer: A Review of Molecular Mechanisms, Combinations with Anticancer Drugs, and Nanosystems

Breast cancer (BC) has become the fifth most prevalent cause of cancer-related morbidity, attracting significant attention from researchers due to its heightened malignancy and drug resistance. Conventional chemotherapy approaches have proven inadequate in addressing all BC subtypes, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches or drugs. Curcumin (CUR), a phytochemical derived from Curcuma longa (turmeric), has shown substantial potential in inhibiting BC cell migration, metastasis, and proliferation. However, the use of CUR in this context comes with challenges due to its dynamic and easily degradable nature, poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, rapid metabolism, and swift systemic elimination, collectively limiting its clinical applications. As such, we provide an overview of the properties, synthesis, and characterization of the hybridization of CUR and its analogue with chemo-drug building blocks. We reviewed research from the last five years on CUR's biogenesis with respect to the regulation of BC, revealing that CUR participates in arresting BC cells in the cell cycle and significantly induces apoptosis in BC cells. Information on the chemotherapeutic and antitumor mechanisms of CUR in BC, including regulation of the cell cycle, increased cell apoptosis, and inhibition of multidrug resistance (MDR), was compiled. Additionally, we provide an overview of CUR loaded into nanomaterials that are cotreated with other chemotherapeutic drugs, such as paclitaxel, thymoquinone, and tamoxifen. In this review, we discuss different types of nanoparticles that can be used for CUR delivery, such as polymeric nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and liposomes. By comparing the size, entrapment efficiency, drug-loading capacity, release time, biocompatibility, pharmaceutical scale, and reproducibility of various nanomaterials, we aimed to determine which formulations are better suited for loading CUR or its analogue. Ultimately, this review is expected to offer inspiring ideas, promising strategies, and potential pathways for developing advanced anti-BC strategy nanosystems in clinical practice.

Curcumin, its derivatives, and their nanoformulations: Revolutionizing cancer treatment

Curcumin is a natural compound derived from turmeric and can target malignant tumor molecules involved in cancer propagation. It has potent antioxidant activity, but its effectiveness is limited due to poor absorption and rapid elimination from the body. Various curcumin derivatives have also shown anticancer potential in in-vitro and in-vivo models. Curcumin can target multiple signaling pathways involved in cancer development/progression or induce cancer cell death through apoptosis. In addition, curcumin and its derivatives could also enhance the effectiveness of conventional chemotherapy, radiation therapy and reduce their associated side effects. Lately, nanoparticle-based delivery systems are being developed/explored to overcome the challenges associated with curcumin's delivery, increasing its overall efficacy. The use of an imaging system to track these formulations could also give beneficial information about the bioavailability and distribution of the nano-curcumin complex. In conclusion, curcumin holds significant promise in the fight against cancer, especially in its nanoform, and could provide precise delivery to cancer cells without affecting normal healthy cells.

The Combination of Bioavailable Concentrations of Curcumin and Resveratrol Shapes Immune Responses While Retaining the Ability to Reduce Cancer Cell Survival

The polyphenols Curcumin (CUR) and Resveratrol (RES) are widely described for their antitumoral effects. However, their low bioavailability is a drawback for their use in therapy. The aim of this study was to explore whether CUR and RES, used at a bioavailable concentration, could modulate immune responses while retaining antitumor activity and to determine whether CUR and RES effects on the immune responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and tumor growth inhibition could be improved by their combination. We demonstrate that the low-dose combination of CUR and RES reduced the survival of cancer cell lines but had no effect on the viability of PBMCs. Although following CUR + RES treatment T lymphocytes showed an enhanced activated state, RES counteracted the increased IFN-γ expression induced by CUR in T cells and the polyphenol combination increased IL-10 production by T regulatory cells. On the other hand, the combined treatment enhanced NK cell activity through the up- and downregulation of activating and inhibitory receptors and increased CD68 expression levels on monocytes/macrophages. Overall, our results indicate that the combination of CUR and RES at low doses differentially shapes immune cells while retaining antitumor activity, support the use of this polyphenol combinations in anticancer therapy and suggest its possible application as adjuvant for NK cell-based immunotherapies.

Oxidative Stress and Cancer: Harnessing the Therapeutic Potential of Curcumin and Analogues Against Cancer

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a class of bioactive molecules that are the by-products of many cellular functions. These molecules are present in normal cells at homeostatic levels but have been studied extensively in cancer due to their dysregulation resulting in pro- and anti-tumorigenic environments. Completely understanding the paradoxical nature of ROS in cancer is imperative to fully realize its modulation as cancer therapy. Studies into ROS have shown far-reaching effects in cancer, including how ROS levels regulate signaling, response to treatment, drug resistance, etc. Many drugs were studied with the hopes of regulating the ROS levels in cancer; however, patient response varied. Plant-derived medications offered new avenues of drug treatment over the last few decades, and the phytochemical Curcumin gained ground as an interesting cancer therapeutic. Curcumin is an active phenolic compound used in traditional medicine around the world. Although it suffers from a poor pharmacokinetic profile, Curcumin exerts anti-tumorigenic, as well as ROS-modulating activities. Analogs and derivatives of Curcumin are under development to improve upon its anti-cancer properties and enhance its bioavailability, currently a major limitation of its usage. This review highlights ROS function in cancer treatment focused on ROS, including Curcumin and its analogs.

Phytochemicals as Immunomodulatory Molecules in Cancer Therapeutics

Phytochemicals are natural plant-derived products that provide significant nutrition, essential biomolecules, and flavor as part of our diet. They have long been known to confer protection against several diseases via their anti-inflammatory, immune-regulatory, anti-microbial, and several other properties. Deciphering the role of phytochemicals in the prevention, inhibition, and treatment of cancer-unrestrained cell proliferation due to the loss of tight regulation on cell growth and replication-has been the focus of recent research. Particularly, the immunomodulatory role of phytochemicals, which is pivotal in unchecked cell proliferation and metastasis, has recently been studied extensively. The immune system is a critical component of the tumor microenvironment, and it plays essential roles in both preventing and promoting oncogenesis. Immunomodulation includes stimulation, amplification, or inactivation of some stage(s) of the immune response. Phytochemicals and their products have demonstrated immune regulation, such as macrophage migration, nitric oxide synthase inhibition, lymphocyte, T-cell, and cytokine stimulation, natural killer cell augmentation, and NFκB, TNF, and apoptosis regulation. There is a dearth of extensive accounts of the immunomodulatory effects of phytochemicals in cancer; thus, we have compiled these effects with mechanistic aspects of dietary phytochemicals in cancer, highlighting promising candidates and ongoing clinical trials on immunotherapeutic strategies to mitigate oncogenesis.

Comparison of the effectiveness of integrative immunomodulatory treatments and conventional therapies on the survival of selected gastrointestinal cancer patients

In the last decade, the use of immunomodulating treatments (IMT) at integrative oncology providers (IOP) increased. IMTs are used to modulate the tumor microenvironment, which might lead to increased response-to-treatment, and the indication of immune checkpoint inhibitors might also be widened. The efficacy and safety of IMTs in advanced/metastatic gastrointestinal cancers were compared with conventional chemo(radio)therapy (CT). 21 colorectal- (CRC), 14 pancreatic- (PC), 5 cholangiocellular- (CCC), 5 gastric- (GC) and 4 esophageal cancer (EC) patients received IMT. IMT and CT were compared in CRC and PC. CT was administered at an academic oncology center. After the initiation of IMT, a median survival of ~ 20 (CRC, PC and EC) and ~ 10 months (CCC and GC) was observed. Of the IMTs, locoregional modulated electro-hyperthermia had the most positive effect on overall survival (HR: 0.3055; P = 0.0260), while fever-inducing interleukin-2, and low-dose ipilimumab showed a positive tendency. IMT was superior to CT in PC (HR: 0.1974; P = 0.0013), while modest effect was detected in CRC (HR: 0.7797; P = 0.4710). When the whole study population was analyzed, IMTs showed minimal effect on patient survival, still CT had the greatest effect if introduced as early as possible (HR: 0.0624; P < 0.0001). The integrative IMTs in the presented form have mild impact on gastrointestinal cancer patients' survival, however, we observed its benefit in PC, which warrants further investigations.

Tumor-associated macrophages: an effective player of the tumor microenvironment

Cancer progression is primarily caused by interactions between transformed cells and the components of the tumor microenvironment (TME). TAMs (tumor-associated macrophages) make up the majority of the invading immune components, which are further categorized as anti-tumor M1 and pro-tumor M2 subtypes. While M1 is known to have anti-cancer properties, M2 is recognized to extend a protective role to the tumor. As a result, the tumor manipulates the TME in such a way that it induces macrophage infiltration and M1 to M2 switching bias to secure its survival. This M2-TAM bias in the TME promotes cancer cell proliferation, neoangiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, matrix remodeling for metastatic support, and TME manipulation to an immunosuppressive state. TAMs additionally promote the emergence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are known for their ability to originate, metastasize, and relapse into tumors. CSCs also help M2-TAM by revealing immune escape and survival strategies during the initiation and relapse phases. This review describes the reasons for immunotherapy failure and, thereby, devises better strategies to impair the tumor-TAM crosstalk. This study will shed light on the understudied TAM-mediated tumor progression and address the much-needed holistic approach to anti-cancer therapy, which encompasses targeting cancer cells, CSCs, and TAMs all at the same time.

Curcumin potentiates the ErbB receptors inhibitor Afatinib for enhanced antitumor activity in malignant mesothelioma

Several attempts have been made to develop targeted therapies for malignant mesothelioma (MM), an aggressive tumour with a poor prognosis. In this study we evaluated whether Curcumin (CUR) potentiated the antitumor activity of the ErbB receptors inhibitor Afatinib (AFA) on MM, employing cell lines cultured in vitro and mice bearing intraperitoneally transplanted, syngeneic MM cells. The rationale behind this hypothesis was that CUR could counteract mechanisms of acquired resistance to AFA. We analysed CUR and AFA effects on MM cell growth, cell cycle, autophagy, and on the modulation of tumour-supporting signalling pathways.This study demonstrated that, as compared to the individual compounds, the combination of AFA + CUR had a stronger effect on MM progression which can be ascribed either to increased tumour cell growth inhibition or to an enhanced pro-apoptotic effect. These results warrant future studies aimed at further exploring the therapeutic potential of AFA + CUR-based combination regimens for MM treatment.

Applications of Curcumin and Its Nanoforms in the Treatment of Cancer

Due to the diverse medicinal and pharmacokinetic properties of turmeric, it is well-known in the therapeutic, pharmaceutic, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and dietary industries. It gained importance due to its multitude of properties, such as wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, cytoprotective, anti-aging, anti-cancer, and immunomodulatory effects. Even though the natural healing effect of turmeric has been known to Indians as early as 2500 BCE, the global demand for turmeric has increased only recently. A major reason for the beneficiary activities of turmeric is the presence of the yellow-colored polyphenolic compound called curcumin. Many studies have been carried out on the various properties of curcumin and its derivatives. Despite its low bioavailability, curcumin has been effectively used for the treatment of many diseases, such as cardiovascular and neurological diseases, diabetes, arthritis, and cancer. The advent of nanobiotechnology has further opened wide opportunities to explore and expand the use of curcumin in the medical field. Nanoformulations using curcumin and its derivatives helped to design new treatment modalities, specifically in cancer, because of the better bioavailability and solubility of nanocurcumin when compared to natural curcumin. This review deals with the various applications of curcumin nanoparticles in cancer therapy and broadly tries to understand how it affect the immunological status of the cancer cell.

Curcuphenol possesses an unusual histone deacetylase enhancing activity that counters immune escape in metastatic tumours

Curcuphenol, a common component of the culinary spices, naturally found in marine invertebrates and plants, has been identified as a novel candidate for reversing immune escape by restoring expression of the antigen presentation machinery (APM) in invasive cancers, thereby resurrecting the immune recognition of metastatic tumours. Two synthetic curcuphenol analogues, were prepared by informed design that demonstrated consistent induction of APM expression in metastatic prostate and lung carcinoma cells. Both analogues were subsequently found to possess a previously undescribed histone deacetylase (HDAC)-enhancing activity. Remarkably, the H3K27ac ChIPseq analysis of curcuphenol-treated cells reveals that the induced epigenomic marks closely resemble the changes in genome-wide pattern observed with interferon-γ, a cytokine instrumental for orchestrating innate and adaptive immunity. These observations link dietary components to modifying epigenetic programs that modulate gene expression guiding poised immunity.

Nanotechnology-based photo-immunotherapy: a new hope for inhibition of melanoma growth and metastasis

Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and there is a need for the development of effective anti-melanoma therapies as it shows high metastatic ability and low response rate. In addition, it has been identified that traditional phototherapy could trigger immunogenic cell death (ICD) to activate antitumor immune response, which could not only effectively arrest primary tumor growth, but also exhibit superior effects in terms of anti-metastasis, anti-recurrence for metastatic melanoma treatment However, the limited tumor accumulation of photosensitizers/photothermal agents and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment severely weaken the immune effects. The application of nanotechnology facilitates a higher accumulation of photosensitizers/photothermal agents at the tumor site, which can thus improve the antitumor effects of photo-immunotherapy (PIT). In this review, we summarize the basic principles of nanotechnology-based PIT and highlight novel nanotechnologies that are expected to enhance the antitumor immune response for improved therapeutic efficacy.

Curcumin Enhances the Abscopal Effect in Mice with Colorectal Cancer by Acting as an Immunomodulator

Radiotherapy (RT) is an effective cancer treatment. The abscopal effect, referring to the unexpected shrinkage observed in non-irradiated tumors after radiation therapy, is thought to be mediated by systemic immune activation. However, it has low incidence and is unpredictable. Here, RT was combined with curcumin to investigate how curcumin affects RT-induced abscopal effects in mice with bilateral CT26 colorectal tumors. Indium 111-labeled DOTA-anti-OX40 mAb was synthesized to detect the activated T cell accumulations in primary and secondary tumors correlating with the changes in protein expressions and tumor growth to understand the overall effects of the combination of RT and curcumin. The combination treatment caused the most significant tumor suppression in both primary and secondary tumors, accompanied by the highest ¹¹¹In-DOTA-OX40 mAb tumor accumulations. The combination treatment elevated expressions of proapoptotic proteins (Bax and cleaved caspase-3) and proinflammatory proteins (granzyme B, IL-6, and IL-1β) in both primary and secondary tumors. Based on the biodistribution of ¹¹¹In-DOTA-OX40 mAb, tumor growth inhibition, and anti-tumor protein expression, our findings suggest that curcumin could act as an immune booster to augment RT-induced anti-tumor and abscopal effects effectively.

Active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine for enhancing the effect of tumor immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that uses our own immune system to fight cancer. Studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has antitumor activity and can enhance host immunity. This article briefly describes the immunomodulatory and escape mechanisms in tumors, as well as highlights and summarizes the antitumor immunomodulatory activities of some representative active ingredients of TCM. Finally, this article puts forward some opinions on the future research and clinical application of TCM, aiming to promote the clinical applications of TCM in tumor immunotherapy and to provide new ideas for the research of tumor immunotherapy using TCM.

Why Don't the Mutant Cells That Evade DNA Repair Cause Cancer More Frequently? Importance of the Innate Immune System in the Tumor Microenvironment

The standard of care for most malignant solid tumors still involves tumor resection followed by chemo- and radiation therapy, hoping to eliminate the residual tumor cells. This strategy has been successful in extending the life of many cancer patients. Still, for primary glioblastoma (GBM), it has not controlled recurrence or increased the life expectancies of patients. Amid such disappointment, attempts to design therapies using the cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) have gained ground. Such "immunotherapies" have so far overwhelmingly used genetic modifications of Tc cells (Car-T cell therapy) or blocking of proteins (PD-1 or PD-L1) that inhibit Tc-cell-mediated cancer cell elimination. Despite such advances, GBM has remained a "Kiss of Death" for most patients. Although the use of innate immune cells, such as the microglia, macrophages, and natural killer (NK) cells, has been considered in designing therapies for cancers, such attempts have not reached the clinic yet. We have reported a series of preclinical studies highlighting strategies to "re-educate" GBM-associated microglia and macrophages (TAMs) so that they assume a tumoricidal status. Such cells then secrete chemokines to recruit activated, GBM-eliminating NK cells and cause the rescue of 50-60% GBM mice in a syngeneic model of GBM. This review discusses a more fundamental question that most biochemists harbor: "since we are generating mutant cells in our body all the time, why don't we get cancer more often?" The review visits publications addressing this question and discusses some published strategies for re-educating the TAMs to take on the "sentry" role they initially maintained in the absence of cancer.

Modulatory properties of curcumin in cancer: A narrative review on the role of interferons

The immune network is an effective network of cell types and chemical compounds established to maintain the body's homeostasis from foreign threats and to prevent the risk of a wide range of diseases; hence, its proper functioning and balance are essential. A dysfunctional immune system can contribute to various disorders, including cancer. Therefore, there has been considerable interest in molecules that can modulate the immune network. Curcumin, the active ingredient of turmeric, is one of these herbal remedies with many beneficial effects, including modulation of immunity. Curcumin is beneficial in managing various chronic inflammatory conditions, improving brain function, lowering cardiovascular disease risk, prevention and management of dementia, and prevention of aging. Several clinical studies have supported this evidence, suggesting curcumin to have an immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory function; nevertheless, its mechanism of action is still not clear. In the current review, we aim to explore the modulatory function of curcumin through interferons in cancers.

Curcumin mediated dendritic cell maturation by modulating cancer associated fibroblasts-derived exosomal miRNA-146a

BACKGROUND

Though cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), being a main component of tumor microenvironment (TME), are known to modulate immune response through secretion of various growth hormones, exosomes carrying miRNAs and cytokines; their effect on dendritic cells (DCs) are yet to be elucidated. Thus, aim of this study was to assess the effect of miRNAs and cytokines released by lung-CAFs and to evaluate immunomodulatory potential of curcumin on DC maturation through modulating their TME.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

To check the effect of CAFs derived exosomes on DC maturation, we cultured imDCs in the presence of CAFs derived conditioned media (CAFs-CM) and characterized by the presence of maturation markers CD80, CD83, CD86 and CTLA4 using qRT-PCR. Additionally, expression of miR-221, miR-222, miR-155, miR-142-3p and miR-146a was assessed to evaluate the role of epigenetic regulators on DC maturation. Likewise, cytokine profiling of CAFs-CM as well as CAFs-CM treated with curcumin was also conducted using ELISA.

RESULTS

Results revealed the generation of regulatory DCs which were characterized by decreased expression of maturation markers in the presence of CAFs-CM. In addition, such DCs showed higher expression of epigenetic regulator miR-146a which was positively correlated with increased expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6, IL-10, TGF-β and decreased expression of TNF-α (pro-inflammatory). Moreover, curcumin had the potential to convert regulatory DCs generated by CAFs into mDCs, which were characterized by high expression of co-stimulatory molecules, low expression of CTLA4, lower levels of immune suppressive cytokines production and lower levels of miR-146a.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, these findings provide insight into understanding the immunomodulatory role of curcumin in targeting CAFs and modulating TME, thus enhancing antitumor immune response in DC based therapy.

Curcumin in the treatment of urological cancers: Therapeutic targets, challenges and prospects

Urological cancers include bladder, prostate and renal cancers that can cause death in males and females. Patients with urological cancers are mainly diagnosed at an advanced disease stage when they also develop resistance to therapy or poor response. The use of natural products in the treatment of urological cancers has shown a significant increase. Curcumin has been widely used in cancer treatment due to its ability to trigger cell death and suppress metastasis. The beneficial effects of curcumin in the treatment of urological cancers is the focus of current review. Curcumin can induce apoptosis in the three types of urological cancers limiting their proliferative potential. Furthermore, curcumin can suppress invasion of urological cancers through EMT inhibition. Notably, curcumin decreases the expression of MMPs, therefore interfering with urological cancer metastasis. When used in combination with chemotherapy agents, curcumin displays synergistic effects in suppressing cancer progression. It can also be used as a chemosensitizer. Based on pre-clinical studies, curcumin administration is beneficial in the treatment of urological cancers and future clinical applications might be considered upon solving problems related to the poor bioavailability of the compound. To improve the bioavailability of curcumin and increase its therapeutic index in urological cancer suppression, nanostructures have been developed to favor targeted delivery.

Identification of potential targets of the curcumin analog CCA-1.1 for glioblastoma treatment : integrated computational analysis and in vitro study

The treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is challenging owing to its localization in the brain, the limited capacity of brain cells to repair, resistance to conventional therapy, and its aggressiveness. Curcumin has anticancer activity against aggressive cancers, such as leukemia, and GBM; however, its application is limited by its low solubility and bioavailability. Chemoprevention curcumin analog 1.1 (CCA-1.1), a curcumin analog, has better solubility and stability than those of curcumin. In this study, we explored potential targets of CCA-1.1 in GBM (PTCGs) by an integrated computational analysis and in vitro study. Predicted targets of CCA-1.1 obtained using various databases were subjected to comprehensive downstream analyses, including functional annotation, disease and drug association analyses, protein–protein interaction network analyses, analyses of genetic alterations, expression, and associations with survival and immune cell infiltration. Our integrative bioinformatics analysis revealed four candidate targets of CCA-1.1 in GBM: TP53, EGFR, AKT1, and CASP3. In addition to targeting specific proteins with regulatory effects in GBM, CCA-1.1 has the capacity to modulate the immunological milieu. Cytotoxicity of CCA-1.1 was lower than TMZ with an IC50 value of 9.8 μM compared to TMZ with an IC50 of 40 μM. mRNA sequencing revealed EGFR transcript variant 8 was upregulated, whereas EGFRvIII was downregulated in U87 cells after treatment with CCA-1.1. Furthermore, a molecular docking analysis suggested that CCA-1.1 inhibits EGFR with various mutations in GBM, which was confirmed using molecular dynamics simulation, wherein the binding between CCA-1.1 with the mutant EGFR L861Q was stable. For successful clinical translation, the effects of CCA-1.1 need to be confirmed in laboratory studies and clinical trials.

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.

Preparation, Characterization, and In Vitro Release of Curcumin-Loaded IRMOF-10 Nanoparticles and Investigation of Their Pro-Apoptotic Effects on Human Hepatoma HepG2 Cells

Curcumin (CUR) has a bright future in the treatment of cancer as a natural active ingredient with great potential. However, curcumin has a low solubility, which limits its clinical application. In this study, IRMOF-10 was created by the direct addition of triethylamine, CUR was loaded into IRMOF-10 using the solvent adsorption method, and the two were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) methods, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. We also used the MTT method, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, the annexin V/PI method, cellular uptake, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) to perform a safety analysis and anticancer activity study of IRMOF-10 and CUR@IRMOF-10 on HepG2 cells. Our results showed that CUR@IRMOF-10 had a CUR load of 63.96%, with an obvious slow-release phenomenon. The CUR levels released under different conditions at 60 h were 33.58% (pH 7.4) and 31.86% (pH 5.5). Cell experiments proved that IRMOF-10 was biologically safe and could promote curcumin entering the nucleus, causing a series of reactions, such as an increase in reactive oxygen species and a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential, thereby leading to cell apoptosis. In summary, IRMOF-10 is an excellent drug carrier and CUR@IRMOF-10 is an effective anti-liver cancer sustained-release preparation.

Curcumin Ameliorates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity and Hepatotoxicity Via Suppressing Oxidative Stress and Modulating iNOS, NF-κB, and TNF-α in Rats

Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the widely used anti-tumor drugs. However, DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) and hepatotoxicity (DIH) are among the side effects that limited its therapeutic efficiency and clinical applicability. This study aimed to investigate the cardioprotective and hepatoprotective potentials of curcumin (CMN)-a bioactive polyphenolic compound-in alleviating DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) and hepatotoxicity (DIH) in male rats. A single intraperitoneal (i.p.) dose of DOX (20 mg/kg) was used to induce DIC and DIH. DOX-intoxicated rats were co-treated with CMN (100 mg/kg, oral) for 10 days before and 5 days after a single dose of DOX. We studied the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities of CMN on biochemical and immunohistochemical aspects. DOX disrupted cardiac and hepatic functions and stimulated oxidative stress and inflammation in both tissues that was confirmed biochemically and immunohistochemically. DOX enhanced inflammatory interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and upregulated immunoexpression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). DOX induced structural alterations in both cardiac and hepatic tissues. CMN demonstrated cardioprotective potential through reducing cardiac troponin I (cTn1) and aspartate amino transaminase (AST). In addition, CMN significantly ameliorated liver function through decreasing alanine amino transaminase (ALT) and, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG). CMN demonstrated anti-inflammatory potential through decreasing IFN-γ levels and immunoexpression of iNOS, NF-κB, and TNF-α. Histopathologically, CMN restored DOX-associated cardiac and liver structural alterations. CMN showed anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory potentials in both the cardiac and hepatic tissues. In addition, cTn1, IFN-γ, and AST could be used as blood-based biomarkers.