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Zoi V, Kyritsis AP, Galani V, Lazari D, Sioka C, Voulgaris S, Alexiou GA. The Role of Curcumin in Cancer: A Focus on the PI3K/Akt Pathway. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1554. [PMID: 38672636 PMCID: PMC11048628 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16081554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a life-threatening disease and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Despite significant advancements in therapeutic options, most available anti-cancer agents have limited efficacy. In this context, natural compounds with diverse chemical structures have been investigated for their multimodal anti-cancer properties. Curcumin is a polyphenol isolated from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa and has been widely studied for its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer effects. Curcumin acts on the regulation of different aspects of cancer development, including initiation, metastasis, angiogenesis, and progression. The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway is a key target in cancer therapy, since it is implicated in initiation, proliferation, and cancer cell survival. Curcumin has been found to inhibit the PI3K/Akt pathway in tumor cells, primarily via the regulation of different key mediators, including growth factors, protein kinases, and cytokines. This review presents the therapeutic potential of curcumin in different malignancies, such as glioblastoma, prostate and breast cancer, and head and neck cancers, through the targeting of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliki Zoi
- Neurosurgical Institute, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece
| | | | - Vasiliki Galani
- Department of Anatomy Histology-Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Diamanto Lazari
- Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Chrissa Sioka
- Neurosurgical Institute, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Spyridon Voulgaris
- Neurosurgical Institute, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Georgios A. Alexiou
- Neurosurgical Institute, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece
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Morgos DT, Stefani C, Miricescu D, Greabu M, Stanciu S, Nica S, Stanescu-Spinu II, Balan DG, Balcangiu-Stroescu AE, Coculescu EC, Georgescu DE, Nica RI. Targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK Signaling Pathways in Gastric Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1848. [PMID: 38339127 PMCID: PMC10856016 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, with more than 1 million cases diagnosed every year. Helicobacter pylori represents the main risk factor, being responsible for 78% of the cases. Increased amounts of salt, pickled food, red meat, alcohol, smoked food, and refined sugars negatively affect the stomach wall, contributing to GC development. Several gene mutations, including PIK3CA, TP53, ARID1A, CDH1, Ras, Raf, and ERBB3 are encountered in GC pathogenesis, leading to phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-PI3K/AKT/mTOR-and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway activation and promoting tumoral activity. Helicobacter pylori, growth factors, cytokines, hormones, and oxidative stress also activate both pathways, enhancing GC development. In clinical trials, promising results have come from monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab and ramucirumab. Dual inhibitors targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways were used in vitro studies, also with promising results. The main aim of this review is to present GC incidence and risk factors and the dysregulations of the two protein kinase complexes together with their specific inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana-Theodora Morgos
- Discipline of Anatomy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Constantin Stefani
- Department I of Family Medicine and Clinical Base, “Dr. Carol Davila” Central Military Emergency University Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Daniela Miricescu
- Discipline of Biochemistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Maria Greabu
- Discipline of Biochemistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Silviu Stanciu
- Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Central Military Emergency University Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Silvia Nica
- Emergency Discipline, University Hospital of Bucharest, 050098 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Iulia-Ioana Stanescu-Spinu
- Discipline of Physiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (I.-I.S.-S.); (D.G.B.); (A.-E.B.-S.)
| | - Daniela Gabriela Balan
- Discipline of Physiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (I.-I.S.-S.); (D.G.B.); (A.-E.B.-S.)
| | - Andra-Elena Balcangiu-Stroescu
- Discipline of Physiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (I.-I.S.-S.); (D.G.B.); (A.-E.B.-S.)
| | - Elena-Claudia Coculescu
- Discipline of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Dragos-Eugen Georgescu
- Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 50474 Bucharest, Romania;
- Department of General Surgery, “Dr. Ion Cantacuzino” Clinical Hospital, 020475 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Remus Iulian Nica
- Central Military Emergency University Hospital “Dr. Carol Davila”, 010825 Bucharest, Romania;
- Discipline of General Surgery, Faculty of Midwifery and Nursing, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
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