Title:Therapeutic Effects of Curcumin against Bladder Cancer: A Review of Possible Molecular Pathways
VOLUME: 20 ISSUE: 6
Author(s):Milad Ashrafizadeh, Habib Yaribeygi* and Amirhossein Sahebkar*
Affiliation:Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Research Center of Physiology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Halal Research Center of IRI, FDA, Tehran
Keywords:Curcumin, bladder cancer, signaling pathway, cancer therapy, herbal medicine, polyphenol.
Abstract:There are concerns about the increased incidence of cancer both in developing and developed countries.
In spite of recent progress in cancer therapy, this disease is still one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
Consequently, there have been rigorous attempts to improve cancer therapy by looking at nature as a rich
source of naturally occurring anti-tumor drugs. Curcumin is a well-known plant-derived polyphenol found in
turmeric. This compound has numerous pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic
and anti-tumor properties. Curcumin is capable of suppressing the growth of a variety of cancer cells
including those of bladder cancer. Given the involvement of various signaling pathways such as PI3K, Akt,
mTOR and VEGF in the progression and malignancy of bladder cancer, and considering the potential of curcumin
in targeting signaling pathways, it seems that curcumin can be considered as a promising candidate in bladder
cancer therapy. In the present review, we describe the molecular signaling pathways through which curcumin
inhibits invasion and metastasis of bladder cancer cells.