Curcumin inhibits superoxide dismutase-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway in pancreatic cancer cells

Curcumin inhibits the invasion and migration of pancreatic cancer cells by upregulating TFPI-2 to regulate ERK- and JNK-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition

PURPOSE

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most deadly human malignancies. Curcumin is a natural polyphenolic compound with wide-ranging pharmacological effects. Growing evidence suggests that curcumin has anticancer activity against PC, but the mechanism remains incompletely elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of curcumin on the invasion and migration of PC cells.

METHODS

Effect of curcumin on tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI)-2 mRNA expression in PC cells was initially identified using qRT-PCR. Cytotoxicity of curcumin was assessed with MTT assays and IC50 was calculated. Involvement of ERK and JNK pathways, as well as protein expression of TFPI-2 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers, were detected using immunoblotting. Invasion and migration of PC cells were examined using Transwell assays. TFPI-2 expression was manipulated by transfection with siRNA and shRNA. Rescue assays were used to validate the effect of curcumin on cell invasion and migration via TFPI-2.

RESULTS

Curcumin increased the expression of TFPI-2 mRNA and protein in PC cells and attenuated cell invasion and migration. Curcumin also inhibited ERK and JNK pathways and EMT in PC cells. Knockdown of TFPI-2 partially reversed the inhibition of ERK and JNK pathways and EMT by curcumin. Mechanistically, curcumin upregulated TFPI-2, thereby inhibiting the ERK and JNK pathways, leading to the inhibition of EMT in PC cells.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, curcumin inhibits ERK- and JNK-mediated EMT through upregulating TFPI-2, which in turn suppresses the migration and invasion of PC cells. These findings provide new insights into the antitumor mechanism of curcumin.

Targeting the key players of phenotypic plasticity in cancer cells by phytochemicals

Plasticity of phenotypic traits refers to an organism's ability to change in response to environmental stimuli. As a result, the response may alter an organism's physiological state, morphology, behavior, and phenotype. Phenotypic plasticity in cancer cells describes the considerable ability of cancer cells to transform phenotypes through non-genetic molecular signaling activities that promote therapy evasion and tumor metastasis via amplifying cancer heterogeneity. As a result of metastable phenotypic state transitions, cancer cells can tolerate chemotherapy or develop transient adaptive resistance. Therefore, new findings have paved the road in identifying factors and agents that inhibit or suppress phenotypic plasticity. It has also investigated novel multitargeted agents that may promise new effective strategies in cancer treatment. Despite the efficiency of conventional chemotherapeutic agents, drug toxicity, development of resistance, and high-cost limit their use in cancer therapy. Recent research has shown that small molecules derived from natural sources are capable of suppressing cancer by focusing on the plasticity of phenotypic responses. This systematic, comprehensive, and critical review analyzes the current state of knowledge regarding the ability of phytocompounds to target phenotypic plasticity at both preclinical and clinical levels. Current challenges/pitfalls, limitations, and future perspectives are also discussed.

Curcuminoids as Cell Signaling Pathway Modulators: A Potential Strategy for Cancer Prevention

Despite substantial advancements in curative modern medicine in the last few decades, cancer risk and casualty rates have continued to mount globally. The exact reason for cancer's onset and progression is still unknown. However, skeletal and functional abnormalities in the genetic code are assumed to be the primary cause of cancer. Many lines of evidence reported that some medicinal plants can be utilized to curb cancer cell proliferation with a safe, fruitful, and cost-efficient perspective. Curcuminoid, isolated from Curcuma longa, have gotten a lot of focus due to their anticancer potential as they reduce tumor progression, invasion, and dissemination. Further, they modulated signal transduction routes like MAPK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, JAK/STAT, and Wnt/β-catenin, etc., and triggered apoptosis as well as actuated autophagy in malignant cells without altering the normal cells, thus preventing cancer progression. Besides, Curcuminoid also regulate the function and expression of anti-tumor and carcinogenic miRNAs. Clinical studies also reported the therapeutic effect of Curcuminoid against various cancer through decreasing specific biomarkers like TNF-α, Bcl-2, COX-2, PGE2, VEGF, IκKβ, and various cytokines like IL-12p70, IL-10, IL-2, IFN-γ levels and increasing in p53 and Bax levels. Thus, in the present review, we abridged the modulation of several signal transduction routes by Curcuminoids in various malignancies, and its modulatory role in the initiation of tumor-suppressive miRNAs and suppression of the oncogenic miRNAs are explored. Additionally, various pharmacokinetic approaches have been projected to address the Curcuminoids bioavailability like the use of piperine as an adjuvant; nanotechnology- based Curcuminoids preparations utilizing Curcuminoids analogues are also discussed.

Advances in the treatment of pancreatic cancer with traditional Chinese medicine

Pancreatic cancer is a common malignancy of the digestive system. With a high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis, it is called the "king of cancers." Currently, Western medicine treats pancreatic cancer mainly by surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, the curative effect is not satisfactory. The application of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the treatment of pancreatic cancer has many advantages and is becoming an important facet of comprehensive clinical treatment. In this paper, we review current therapeutic approaches for pancreatic cancer. We also review the protective effects shown by TCM in different models and discuss the potential molecular mechanisms of these.

Curcumin: A dietary phytochemical for boosting exercise performance and recovery

Curcumin, as the main natural compound in the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa), is a yellowish polyphenol that has been used traditionally in Asian countries as a medicinal herb for various types of disease and pathological conditions caused by inflammation and oxidative stress. In the present review, we conducted a comprehensive literature search for evidence that shows the effect of curcumin on factors influencing exercise performance, including muscle damage, muscle soreness, inflammation, and oxidative stress. During exercise, reactive oxygen species and inflammation are increased. Thus, if there is no balance between endogenous and exogenous antioxidants and increases in oxidative stress and inflammation, which is important for maintaining redox homeostasis in skeletal muscle, it can lead to muscle soreness and muscle damage and ultimately result in reduced exercise performance. Due to the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, it can increase exercise performance and decrease exercise-induced muscle soreness and muscle damage. It appears that curcumin supplementation can have positive effects on exercise performance and recovery, muscle damage and pain, inflammation, and oxidative stress. However, there is still a need to precisely evaluate factors to more accurately assess/quantify the beneficial therapeutic effects of curcumin with regard to enhancing exercise performance and recovery.

Curcuminoids as Modulators of EMT in Invasive Cancers: A Review of Molecular Targets With the Contribution of Malignant Mesothelioma Studies

Curcuminoids, which include natural acyclic diarylheptanoids and the synthetic analogs of curcumin, have considerable potential for fighting against all the characteristics of invasive cancers. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental process for embryonic morphogenesis, however, the last decade has confirmed it orchestrates many features of cancer invasiveness, such as tumor cell stemness, metabolic rewiring, and drug resistance. A wealth of studies has revealed EMT in cancer is in fact driven by an increasing number of parameters, and thus understanding its complexity has now become a cornerstone for defining future therapeutic strategies dealing with cancer progression and metastasis. A specificity of curcuminoids is their ability to target multiple molecular targets, modulate several signaling pathways, modify tumor microenvironments and enhance the host’s immune response. Although the effects of curcumin on these various parameters have been the subject of many reviews, the role of curcuminoids against EMT in the context of cancer have never been reviewed so far. This review first provides an updated overview of all EMT drivers, including signaling pathways, transcription factors, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and tumor microenvironment components, with a special focus on the most recent findings. Secondly, for each of these drivers the effects of curcumin/curcuminoids on specific molecular targets are analyzed. Finally, we address some common findings observed between data reported in the literature and the results of investigations we conducted on experimental malignant mesothelioma, a model of invasive cancer representing a useful tool for studies on EMT and cancer.

NF-κB as a regulator of cancer metastasis and therapy response: A focus on epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Metastasis of tumor cells is a complex challenge and significantly diminishes the overall survival and prognosis of cancer patients. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a well-known mechanism responsible for the invasiveness of tumor cells. A number of molecular pathways can regulate the EMT mechanism in cancer cells and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) is one of them. The nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 can induce the transcription of several genes involved in EMT induction. The present review describes NF-κB and EMT interaction in cancer cells and their association in cancer progression. Due to the oncogenic role NF-κB signaling, its activation enhances metastasis of tumor cells via EMT induction. This has been confirmed in various cancers including brain, breast, lung and gastric cancers, among others. The ZEB1/2, transforming growth factor-β, and Slug as inducers of EMT undergo upregulation by NF-κB to promote metastasis of tumor cells. After EMT induction driven by NF-κB, a significant decrease occurs in E-cadherin levels, while N-cadherin and vimentin levels undergo an increase. The noncoding RNAs can potentially also function as upstream mediators and modulate NF-κB/EMT axis in cancers. Moreover, NF-κB/EMT axis is involved in mediating drug resistance in tumor cells. Thus, suppressing NF-κB/EMT axis can also promote the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents.

Antitumor Effects of 10058-F4 and Curcumin in Combination Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo

Background

Pancreatic cancer (PC) stands out as one of the most lethal cancers. Due to late diagnosis, only a fraction of patients can be resected. Although it still has significant adverse effects and poor results, the treatment is connected with better overall survival than the prior treatment. Thus, new alternative therapy for advanced PC is needed. Materials/Methods. The impact of 10058-F4 and curcumin combination therapy on apoptosis and cell growth in SW1990 pancreatic cancer cells were determined in vitro using the CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry of Annexin V-FITC/PI, and the in vivo antitumor effect was determined utilizing SW1990-bearing pancreatic tumor mouse models induced by subcutaneous implantation.

Results

At concentrations of (10 mol/L+2 mol/L), 10058-F4+curcumin obtained the highest rate of SW1990 cell death, and they had a beneficial effect on SW1990 pancreatic tumor-bearing animals. Furthermore, c-Myc, Akt phosphorylation, and the expression of apoptosis-related molecular were reduced, and the combination therapy modified the expression of apoptosis-related molecular.

Conclusions

In vitro and in vivo, the combination of 10058-F4 plus curcumin has antipancreatic cancer actions that are substantially effective.

Phyto-targeting the CEMIP Expression as a Strategy to Prevent Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis

INTRODUCTION

Metastasis of primary pancreatic cancer (PC) to adjacent or distant organs is responsible for the poor survival rate of affected individuals. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy are currently being prescribed to treat PC in addition to surgical resection. Surgical resection is the preferred treatment for PC that leads to 20% of 5-year survival, but only less than 20% of patients are eligible for surgical resection because of the poor prognosis. To improve the prognosis and clinical outcome, early diagnostic markers need to be identified, and targeting them would be of immense benefit to increase the efficiency of the treatment. Cell migration-inducing hyaluronan-binding protein (CEMIP) is identified as an important risk factor for the metastasis of various cancers, including PC. Emerging studies have pointed out the crucial role of CEMIP in the regulation of various signaling mechanisms, leading to enhanced migration and metastasis of PC.

METHODS

The published findings on PC metastasis, phytoconstituents, and CEMIP were retrieved from Pubmed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library. Computational tools, such as gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA) and Kaplan-Meier (KM) plotter, were used to study the relationship between CEMIP expression and survival of PC individuals.

RESULTS

Gene expression analysis using the GEPIA database identified a stupendous increase in the CEMIP transcript in PC compared to adjacent normal tissues. KM plotter analysis revealed the impact of CEMIP on the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) among PC patients. Subsequently, several risk factors associated with PC development were screened, and their ability to regulate CEMIP gene expression was analyzed using computational tools.

CONCLUSION

The current review is focused on gathering information regarding the regulatory role of phytocomponents in PC migration and exploring their possible impact on the CEMIP expression.

Chemical Investigation of Diketopiperazines and N-Phenethylacetamide Isolated from Aquimarina sp. MC085 and Their Effect on TGF-β-Induced Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition

Chemical investigations of Aquimarina sp. MC085, which suppressed TGF-β-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in A549 human lung cancer cells, led to the isolation of compounds 1–3. Structural characterization using spectroscopic data analyses in combination with Marfey’s analysis revealed that they were two diketopiperazines [cyclo(l-Pro-l-Leu) (1) and cyclo(l-Pro-l-Ile) (2)] and one N-phenethylacetamide (3). Cyclo(l-Pro-l-Leu) (1) and N-phenethylactamide (3) inhibited the TGF-β/Smad pathway and suppressed the metastasis of A549 cells by affecting TGF-β-induced EMT. However, cyclo(l-Pro-l-Ile) (2) downregulated mesenchymal factors via a non-Smad-mediated signaling pathway.

Research progress of phenolic compounds regulating IL-6 to exert antitumor effects

Cytokine therapy, which activates the host immune system, has become an important and novel therapeutic approach to treat various cancers. Recent studies have shown that IL-6 is an important cytokine that regulates the homeostasis in vivo. However, excessive IL-6 plays a pathological role in a variety of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, especially in cancer. IL-6 can transmit signals through JAK/STAT, RAS /MAPK, PI3K/ Akt, NF-κB, and other pathways to promote cancer progression. Phenolic compounds can effectively regulate the level of IL-6 in tumor cells and improve the tumor microenvironment. This article focuses on the phenolic compounds through the regulation of IL-6, participate in the prevention of cancer, inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells, reduce angiogenesis, improve therapeutic efficacy, and reduce side effects and other aspects. This will help to further advance research on cytokine therapy to reduce the burden of cancer and improve patient prognosis. However, current studies are mostly limited to animal and cellular experiments, and high-quality clinical studies are needed to further determine their antitumor efficacy in humans.

Curcumin Inhibits HGF-Induced EMT by Regulating c-MET-Dependent PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathways in Meningioma

Meningiomas, which are the most common primary intracranial tumors, have highly aggressive cells in malignant cases. Due to its extensive antitumor effects, curcumin is widely used in experimental and clinical studies. However, the role of curcumin during the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in meningioma has not been established. We found that curcumin blocks hepatocyte growth factor- (HGF-) induced proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of human malignant meningioma cells by regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. In addition, treatment of human malignant meningioma cells with the tyrosine protein kinase (c-MET) inhibitor (SU11274) or the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor (LY294002) suppressed HGF-induced migration and EMT. Furthermore, we found that curcumin inhibited tumor growth and HGF-induced EMT in mice subjected to subcutaneous xenotransplantation. These findings indicate that HGF regulates EMT in human malignant meningioma cells through c-MET/PI3K/Akt/mTOR modulation. In conclusion, curcumin inhibits HGF-induced EMT by targeting c-MET and subsequently blocking the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

Antimetastatic Effects of Curcumin in Oral and Gastrointestinal Cancers

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are known as frequently occurred solid malignant tumors that can cause the high rate mortality in the world. Metastasis is a significant destructive feature of tumoral cells, which directly correlates with decreased prognosis and survival. Curcumin, which is found in turmeric, has been identified as a potent therapeutic natural bioactive compound (Curcuma longa). It has been traditionally applied for centuries to treat different diseases, and it has shown efficacy for its anticancer properties. Numerous studies have revealed that curcumin inhibits migration and metastasis of GI cancer cells by modulating various genes and proteins, i.e., growth factors, inflammatory cytokines and their receptors, different types of enzymes, caspases, cell adhesion molecules, and cell cycle proteins. Herein, we summarized the antimetastatic effects of curcumin in GI cancers, including pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, oral cancer, and esophageal cancer.

Impact of posttranslational modifications in pancreatic carcinogenesis and treatments

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly aggressive cancer, with a 9% 5-year survival rate and a high risk of recurrence. In part, this is because PC is composed of heterogeneous subgroups with different biological and functional characteristics and personalized anticancer treatments are required. Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) play an important role in modifying protein functions/roles and are required for the maintenance of cell viability and biological processes; thus, their dysregulation can lead to disease. Different types of PTMs increase the functional diversity of the proteome, which subsequently influences most aspects of normal cell biology or pathogenesis. This review primarily focuses on ubiquitination, SUMOylation, and NEDDylation, as well as the current understanding of their roles and molecular mechanisms in pancreatic carcinogenesis. Additionally, we briefly summarize studies and clinical trials on PC treatments to advance our knowledge of drugs available to target the ubiquitination, SUMOylation, and NEDDylation PTM types. Further investigation of PTMs could be a critical field of study in relation to PC, as they have been implicated in the initiation and progression of many other types of cancer.

Therapeutic effect of curcumin in gastrointestinal cancers: A comprehensive review

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers with a high global prevalence are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Accordingly, there is a great need to develop efficient therapeutic approaches. Curcumin, a naturally occurring agent, is a promising compound with documented safety and anticancer activities. Recent studies have demonstrated the activity of curcumin in the prevention and treatment of different cancers. According to systematic studies on curcumin use in various diseases, it can be particularly effective in GI cancers because of its high bioavailability in the gastrointestinal tract. Nevertheless, the clinical applications of curcumin are largely limited because of its low solubility and low chemical stability in water. These limitations may be addressed by the use of relevant analogues or novel delivery systems. Herein, we summarize the pharmacological effects of curcumin against GI cancers. Moreover, we highlight the application of curcumin's analogues and novel delivery systems in the treatment of GI cancers.

Anhydroicaritin Inhibits EMT in Breast Cancer by Enhancing GPX1 Expression: A Research Based on Sequencing Technologies and Bioinformatics Analysis

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. The application of advanced technology has promoted accurate diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Anhydroicaritin (AHI) is a flavonoid with therapeutic potential in BC treatment. The current study aimed to determine AHI's mechanism in BC treatment via RNA sequencing, comprehensive bioinformatics analysis, and experimental verification. Methods: Network pharmacology and MTT (3-(4,5)-dimethylthiazolyl-3,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide) experiments were conducted to first confirm AHI's anti-BC effect. RNA sequencing was performed to identify the genes affected by AHI. Differential expression analysis, survival analysis, gene set enrichment analysis, and immune infiltration analysis were performed via bioinformatics analysis. Western blot analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) experiment, molecular docking, and drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) experiments were also performed to confirm AHI's direct effect on glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) expression. Confocal immunofluorescence analysis was conducted to verify AHI's effect on the occurrence and development of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Finally, BC nude mouse xenografts were established, and AHI's molecular mechanism on BC was explored. Results: Network pharmacology results demonstrated that AHI's therapeutic targets on BC were related to the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of BC cells. AHI significantly inhibited the proliferation of 4T1 and MDA-MB-231 BC cells in the MTT experiments. RNA sequencing results showed that AHI upregulated the GPX1 expression in the 4T1 and MDA-MB-231 BC cells. Next, bioinformatics analysis revealed that GPX1 is less expressed in BC than in normal breast tissues. Patients with high GPX1 expression levels tended to have prolonged overall survival and disease-free survival than patients with low GPX1 expression levels in BC. Western blot and RT-PCR experiments revealed that AHI increased the protein and mRNA levels of GPX1. Molecular docking and DARTS experiments confirmed the direct binding combination between AHI and GPX1. After the evaluation of the EMT scores of 1,078 patients with BC, we found a potential anti-BC role of GPX1 possibly via suppression of the malignant EMT. The confocal immunofluorescence analysis showed that AHI increased E-cadherin expression levels and reduced vimentin expression levels in BC cells. Animal experiments showed that AHI significantly inhibited tumor growth. AHI also inhibited EMT by enhancing GPX1 and caspase3 cleavage, hence inhibiting EMT markers (i.e., N-cadherin and vimentin) and Ki-67. Conclusion: GPX1 plays a critical role in BC, which may be a biomarker for the prognosis. In addition, AHI suppressed EMT by increasing GPX1 expression, which may serve as a potential therapy for BC treatment.

Curcumin attenuates lncRNA H19‑induced epithelial‑mesenchymal transition in tamoxifen‑resistant breast cancer cells

The H19 long non-coding RNA is involved in the development of tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer. However, the relationship between H19 and the metastatic potential and treatment options for tamoxifen-resistant (TAMR) breast cancer is not completely understood. Curcumin inhibits cellular proliferation, migration and invasiveness in several cancer types, including pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and chronic myeloid leukemia. The present study aimed to investigate the role of H19 in MCF-7/TAMR cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration and invasiveness, and to assess the ability of curcumin to inhibit H19-mediated effects. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot analysis were conducted to detect the gene or protein expression. Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing and Transwell invasion assays were performed to estimate the capabilities of cell viability, invasion and migration. H19 overexpression enhanced MCF-7/TAMR cell EMT, invasion and migration by upregulating Snail. Furthermore, curcumin notably decreased the expression levels of epithelial marker E-cadherin and markedly increased the expression levels of mesenchymal marker N-cadherin in MCF-7/TAMR cells compared with the control group. In addition, following treatment with curcumin for 48 h, H19 expression was decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, curcumin treatment for 48 h significantly attenuated H19-induced alterations in N-cadherin and E-cadherin expression levels. Curcumin also prevented H19-induced invasion and migration. The present study indicated that H19 may serve as a promoting factor of EMT, invasion and migration in MCF-7/TAMR cells, suggesting that curcumin may prevent H19-associated metastasis. Therefore, curcumin may serve as a promising therapeutic drug for patients with TAMR breast cancer.

Curcumin Inhibits the Migration and Invasion of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells Through Radiation-Induced Suppression of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Soluble E-Cadherin Expression

Radiotherapy has been reported to cause cancer metastasis. Thus, a new strategy for radiotherapy must be developed to avoid this side effect. A549 cells were exposed to radiation to induce an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) cell model. Real-time PCR and western blotting were used to detect mRNA and protein expression levels, and Transwell invasion and wound healing assays were used to detect cell migration and invasion. ELISA was used to detect soluble E-cadherin (sE-cad) secretion. siRNA was used to silence MMP9 expression. The results show that A549R cells exhibited an EMT phenotype with increased E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Snail, Slug, vimentin and Twist expression and decreased pan-keratin expression. sE-cad levels were increased in A549R cells and in the serum of NSCLC patients with distant metastasis. Exogenous sE-cad treatment and sE-cad overexpression promoted A549R and A549 cell migration and invasion. In contrast, blocking sE-cad attenuated A549 cell migration and invasion. Curcumin inhibited sE-cad expression and reversed EMT induced by radiation. Furthermore, curcumin suppressed sE-cad-enhanced A549 and A549R cell migration and invasion. Curcumin inhibited MMP9 expression, and silencing MMP9 suppressed sE-cad expression. Taken together, we found a nonclassic EMT phenomenon induced by radiation. Curcumin inhibits NSCLC migration and invasion by suppressing radiation-induced EMT and sE-cad expression by decreasing MMP9 expression.

Co-Delivery of Curcumin and Paclitaxel by "Core-Shell" Targeting Amphiphilic Copolymer to Reverse Resistance in the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer

Background

Ovarian cancer is a common malignancy in the female reproductive system with a high mortality rate. The most important reason is multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancer chemotherapy. To reduce side effects, reverse resistance and improve efficacy for the treatment of ovarian cancer, a “core-shell” polymeric nanoparticle-mediated curcumin and paclitaxel co-delivery platform was designed.

Methods

Nuclear magnetic resonance confirmed the successful grafting of polyethylenimine (PEI) and stearic acid (SA) (PEI-SA), which is designed as a mother core for transport carrier. Then, PEI-SA was modified with hyaluronic acid (HA) and physicochemical properties were examined. To understand the regulatory mechanism of resistance and measure the anti-tumor efficacy of the treatments, cytotoxicity assay, cellular uptake, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression and migration experiment of ovarian cancer cells were performed. In addition, adverse reactions of nanoformulation to the reproductive system were examined.

Results

HA-modified drug-loaded PEI-SA had a narrow size of about 189 nm in diameters, and the particle size was suitable for endocytosis. The nanocarrier could target specifically to CD44 receptor on the ovarian cancer cell membrane. Co-delivery of curcumin and paclitaxel by the nanocarriers exerts synergistic anti-ovarian cancer effects on chemosensitive human ovarian cancer cells (SKOV3) and multi-drug resistant variant (SKOV3-TR30) in vitro, and it also shows a good anti-tumor effect in ovarian tumor-bearing nude mice. The mechanism of reversing drug resistance may be that the nanoparticles inhibit the efflux of P-gp, inhibit the migration of tumor cells, and curcumin synergistically reverses the resistance of PTX to increase antitumor activity. It is worth noting that the treatment did not cause significant toxicity to the uterus and ovaries with the observation of macroscopic and microscopic.

Conclusion

This special structure of targeting nanoparticles co-delivery with the curcumin and paclitaxel can increase the anti-tumor efficacy without increasing the adverse reactions as a promising strategy for therapy ovarian cancer.

Advances in understanding of mechanism of anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effects of curcumin

With the application of traditional drugs in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), such as natural medicinal herbs and metabolic regulators, the new functions of traditional drugs have been revealed in the study of anti-HCC drug therapy. Curcumin, a plant-derived drug with hypolipidemic and anti-inflammation effects, has recently been found to exhibit anti-cancer activity due to its inhibitory effects on HCC growth and metastasis. Therefore, it may act as a potential anti-cancer drug for HCC treatment. This article summarizes the advances in the understanding of the action mechanism of curcumin on HCC.

Differential Expression Profiles of the Transcriptome and miRNA Interactome in Synovial Fibroblasts of Rheumatoid Arthritis Revealed by Next Generation Sequencing

Using next-generation sequencing to decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying aberrant rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASF) activation, we performed transcriptome-wide RNA-seq and small RNA-seq on synovial fibroblasts from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) subject and normal donor. Differential expression of mRNA and miRNA was integrated with interaction analysis, functional annotation, regulatory network mapping and experimentally verified miRNA–target interaction data, further validated with microarray expression profiles. In this study, 3049 upregulated mRNA and 3552 downregulated mRNA, together with 50 upregulated miRNA and 35 downregulated miRNA in RASF were identified. Interaction analysis highlighted contribution of miRNA to altered transcriptome. Functional annotation revealed metabolic deregulation and oncogenic signatures of RASF. Regulatory network mapping identified downregulated FOXO1 as master transcription factor resulting in altered transcriptome of RASF. Differential expression in three miRNA and corresponding targets (hsa-miR-31-5p:WASF3, hsa-miR-132-3p:RB1, hsa-miR-29c-3p:COL1A1) were also validated. The interactions of these three miRNA–target genes were experimentally validated with past literature. Our transcriptomic and miRNA interactomic investigation identified gene signatures associated with RASF and revealed the involvement of transcription factors and miRNA in an altered transcriptome. These findings help facilitate our understanding of RA with the hope of serving as a springboard for further discoveries relating to the disease.

Anti-proliferative and Anti-metastatic Potential of Curcumin Analogue, Pentagamavunon-1 (PGV-1), Toward Highly Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells in Correlation with ROS Generation

Purpose: Pentagamavunon-1 (PGV-1) is a curcumin analogue that shows cytotoxic activity in various cancer cells. In this study, we evaluated the effect of PGV-1 on a highly metastatic breast cancer cell line, the 4T1 cells, as an anti-metastatic and anti-proliferative agent. Methods: Cell viability was evaluated using MTT assay; while cell cycle profile, apoptosis incidence, and ROS intracellular level were determined by flow cytometry. Cell senescence was observed under senescence-associated-β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining assay. The expression of matrixmetalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was determined using immunoreaction based-ELISA, while other proteins expression were detected using immunoblotting. Results: Curcumin and PGV-1 showed cytotoxic effects on 4T1 cells with IC50 value of 50 and 4 µM, respectively. The cytotoxic activity of PGV-1 was correlated to the induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest and cell senescence. Furthermore, PGV-1 increased the accumulation of intracellular ROS level. We also revealed that PGV-1 bound to several ROS-metabolizing enzymes, including glyoxalase I (GLO1), peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1), N-ribosyldihydronicotinamide: quinone reductase 2 (NQO2), aldo-keto reductase family 1 member c1 (AKR1C1). As an antimetastatic agent, PGV-1 showed less inhibitory effect on cell migration compared to curcumin. However, PGV-1 significantly decreased MMP-9 protein expression in a dose-dependent manner suggesting it still potent to inhibit metastatic cells. Conclusion: Overall, our findings suggest that PGV-1 is potential to be developed as an antiproliferative and anti-metastatic agent.

Natural Plants Compounds as Modulators of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a self-regulated physiological process required for tissue repair that, in non-controled conditions may lead to fibrosis, angiogenesis, loss of normal organ function or cancer. Although several molecular pathways involved in EMT regulation have been described, this process does not have any specific treatment. This article introduces a systematic review of effective natural plant compounds and their extract that modulates the pathological EMT or its deleterious effects, through acting on different cellular signal transduction pathways both in vivo and in vitro. Thereby, cryptotanshinone, resveratrol, oxymatrine, ligustrazine, osthole, codonolactone, betanin, tannic acid, gentiopicroside, curcumin, genistein, paeoniflorin, gambogic acid and Cinnamomum cassia extracts inhibit EMT acting on transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smads signaling pathways. Gedunin, carnosol, celastrol, black rice anthocyanins, Duchesnea indica, cordycepin and Celastrus orbiculatus extract downregulate vimectin, fibronectin and N-cadherin. Sulforaphane, luteolin, celastrol, curcumin, arctigenin inhibit β-catenin signaling pathways. Salvianolic acid-A and plumbagin block oxidative stress, while honokiol, gallic acid, piperlongumine, brusatol and paeoniflorin inhibit EMT transcription factors such as SNAIL, TWIST and ZEB. Plectranthoic acid, resveratrol, genistein, baicalin, polyphyllin I, cairicoside E, luteolin, berberine, nimbolide, curcumin, withaferin-A, jatrophone, ginsenoside-Rb1, honokiol, parthenolide, phoyunnanin-E, epicatechin-3-gallate, gigantol, eupatolide, baicalin and baicalein and nitidine chloride inhibit EMT acting on other signaling pathways (SIRT1, p38 MAPK, NFAT1, SMAD, IL-6, STAT3, AQP5, notch 1, PI3K/Akt, Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB, FAK/AKT, Hh). Despite the huge amount of preclinical data regarding EMT modulation by the natural compounds of plant, clinical translation is poor. Additionally, this review highlights some relevant examples of clinical trials using natural plant compounds to modulate EMT and its deleterious effects. Overall, this opens up new therapeutic alternatives in cancer, inflammatory and fibrosing diseases through the control of EMT process.

Ferritinophagic Flux Activation in CT26 Cells Contributed to EMT Inhibition Induced by a Novel Iron Chelator, DpdtpA

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes to metastasis and drug resistance; inhibition of EMT may attenuate metastasis and drug resistance. It has been demonstrated that ferritinophagy involves the process of many diseases; however, the relationship between EMT and ferritinophagy was not fully established. Some iron chelators show the ability to inhibit EMT, but whether ferritinophagy plays a role in EMT is largely unknown. To this end, we investigated the effect of a novel iron chelator, DpdtpA (2,2 ′-di-pyridylketone dithiocarbamate propionic acid), on EMT in the CT26 cell line. The DpdtpA displayed excellent antitumor (IC₅₀ = 1.5 ± 0.2 μM), leading to ROS production and apoptosis occurrence. Moreover, the ROS production correlated with ferritin degradation. The upregulation of LC3-II and NCOA4 from immunofluorescence and Western blotting analysis revealed that the occurrence of ferritinophagy contributed to ROS production. Furthermore, DpdtpA could induce an alteration both in morphology and in epithelial-mesenchymal markers, displaying significant EMT inhibition. The correlation analysis revealed that DpdtpA-induced ferritinophagy contributed to the EMT inhibition, implying that NCOA4 involved EMT process, which was firstly reported. To reinforce this concept, the ferritinophagic flux (NCOA4/ferritin) in either treated by TGF-β1 or combined with DpdtpA was determined. The results indicated that activating ferritinophagic flux would enhance ROS production which accordingly suppressed EMT or implementing the EMT suppression seemed to be through “fighting fire with fire” strategy. Taken together, our data demonstrated that ferritinophagic flux was a dominating driving force in EMT proceeding, and the new finding definitely will enrich our knowledge of ferritinophagy in EMT process.

Potential Mechanisms of Action of Curcumin for Cancer Prevention: Focus on Cellular Signaling Pathways and miRNAs

Despite significant progressions in treatment modalities over the last decade, either cancer incidence or mortality is continuously on the rise throughout the world. Current anticancer agents display limited efficacy, accompanied by severe side effects. In order to improve therapeutic outcomes in patients with cancer, it is crucial to identify novel, highly efficacious pharmacological agents. Curcumin, a hydrophobic polyphenol extracted from turmeric, has gained increasing attention due to its powerful anticancer properties. Curcumin can inhibit the growth, invasion and metastasis of various cancers. The anticancer mechanisms of curcumin have been extensively studied. The anticancer effects of curcumin are mainly mediated through its regulation of multiple cellular signaling pathways, including Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/Akt, JAK/STAT, MAPK, p53 and NF-ĸB signaling pathways. Moreover, curcumin also orchestrates the expression and activity of oncogenic and tumor-suppressive miRNAs. In this review, we summarized the regulation of these signaling pathways by curcumin in different cancers. We also discussed the modulatory function of curcumin in the downregulation of oncogenic miRNAs and the upregulation of tumor-suppressive miRNAs. An in-depth understanding of the anticancer mechanisms of curcumin will be helpful for developing this promising compound as a therapeutic agent in clinical management of cancer.

The nanotech potential of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) in food technology: A review

New trends in food are emerging in response to consumer awareness of the relationship between food and health, which has triggered the need to generate new alternatives that meet the expectations of the market. Revolutionary fields such as nanotechnology have been used for the encapsulation of nutritional ingredients and have great potential for the management of food additives derived from fruits and plant species. Turmeric, a spice that has been used as a dyeing agent, is recognized for its properties in Ayurveda medicine. This article aims to provide an overview of the characteristics of turmeric as an ingredient for the food industry, including its properties as a coloring agent, antioxidant, and functional ingredient. This article also highlights the potential of nanotechnology to enhance these properties of turmeric and increase the possibilities for the application of its components, such as cellulose and starch, in the development of nanostructures for food development.

Curcumin: a potent agent to reverse epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

BACKGROUND

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in tumor progression, invasion, migration and metastasis. EMT is a process by which polarized epithelial cells acquire motile mesothelial phenotypic features. This process is initiated by disassembly of cell-cell contacts through the loss of epithelial markers and replacement of these markers by mesenchymal markers. Reconstruction of the cytoskeleton and degradation of the tumor basement membrane ensures the spread of invasive malignant tumor cells to distant locations. Accumulating evidence indicates that curcumin, as a well-known phytochemical, can inhibit EMT/metastasis through various mechanisms and pathways in human tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

In this review, we summarize the mechanisms by which curcumin may affect EMT in cells under pathological conditions to understand its potential as a novel anti-tumor agent. Curcumin can exert chemo-preventive effects by inhibition and reversal of the EMT process through both TGF-β-dependent (e.g. in hepatoma and retinal pigment epithelial cancer) and -independent (e.g. in oral cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, melanoma, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, thyroid cancer and lung cancer) pathways. Curcumin can also mitigate chemoresistance through EMT suppression and promotion of the antiproliferative effects of conventional chemotherapeutics. Therefore, curcumin has the potential to be used as a novel adjunctive agent to prevent tumor metastasis, which may at least partly be attributed to its hampering of the EMT process.