Jess+Heilman_Log


 * Article Summary**

__Title:__ Curcumin: A review of anti-cancer properties and therapeutic activity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma __Aurthors____:__ Reason Wilken, Mysore S Veena, Marilene B Wang, and Eri S Srivatsan __DOI:__ 10.1186/1476-4598-10-12

//**Abstract:**// Curcumin is derived from turmeric and has been utilized for its medicinal properties for centuries. These properies include anti-oxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic. Anti-cancer activities through effecting biological pathways have recently been discovered in curcumin. Many growth factors and the adhesion of cells involved in tumor growth are affected by curcumin. A common cancer is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and current treatments have side effects and high patient morbidity. Due to this there is a high demand for therapeutically efficient chemotherapies that have decreased side effects. Curcumin is a candidate and this article discusses the current in vitro and in vivo data of the therapeutic properties of curcumin in HNSCC and the challenges with its development as a chemotherapeutic drug.

HNSCC is the sixth most common cancer in the world with more than 30,000 cases reported each year, more than 8,000 resulting in death. It is associated with risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol use, and environmental exposures. HPV could also be a causative agent for HNSCC.
 * // Introduction: //**

Current treatments depend on the stage of the disease. Treatment for early state tumors are primarily surgery or radiotherapy. The treatment of advanced cancers can result in high morbidity and include multi-modality therapy with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Chemoradiation is currently the preferred treatment for HNSCC when surgery is not an option.

Platinum-based agents, like cisplatin, are used for chemotherapeutic regimens for this type of cancer. They form DNA crosslinks within cells that lead to apoptosis and cell death. However, the potential side effects are numerous and sometimes permanent. Despite research and advances, the survival rate of HNSCC has not improved much, therefore alternative and less toxic therapies have been under investigation.

//**Effects of Curcumin:**// Curcumin is the main component of turmeric and is responsible for it's therapeutic effects. It is soluble in organic solvents, and the enol form gives rise to it's antioxidant properties. It also displays free radical-scavenging activity both in vivo and in vitro. Research has shown that curcumin downregulates inducible nitric oxide synthesis activity in macrophages. Curcumin has demonstrated reduced nitrogic oxide (NO) generation and blocks neural cells from oxidative stress post treatment. Therefore it could be useful in reducing neuroinflammation that is associated with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.

Curcumin can suppress the expression of genes involved in inflammation, cellular proliferation, and cell survival. It does this by blocking specific phosphorylation and degredation of certain proteins in the cytoplasm stopping them from being able to enter the nucleus and activate transcription.

Curcumin mechanisms target many levels of regulation of processes of cellular growth and death. It acts on many stages of cancer and holds much potential for treatment of many human cancers. The initial stages are effected by curcumin's strong anti-oxidant and free-radical quenching properties. It suppresses UV-irradiation-induced DNA mutagenesis, inhibits NO production, and has the ability to collect DNA-damaging superoxide radicals.

Many types of cancer display an overexpression of cyclin D1 and curcumin has been shown to suppress such overexpression. Curcumin has a stimulatory effect on the extrinsic cell death pathway. This is achieved by increasing the levels of adapter molecules that initiate the capsase cascade which in turn leads to apoptosis.

Curcumin has displayed properties of an inducer of autophagic cell death in certain cancers. It is mediated through the inhibition of two pathways that are involved in the regulation of autophagy induced by nutrient stress. In addition, it has anti-angiogenic effect in vivo of various tumors. Curcumin regulates many pro-angiogenic growth factors, enzymes, and transcription factors.

//**Conclusion:**// Less toxic and invasive treatments for HNSCC are needed. Curcumin is a natural product and non-toxic as well as diverse in its abilities to treat cancer cells. The compound has shown anti-tumor effects in HNSCC but is best suited as an adjuvant therapy to cancers that are resistant to current therapies.