Curcumin: a phytochemical modulator of estrogens and androgens in tumors of the reproductive system

• Published in: Pharmacological research Vol. 156; p. 104765
• Main Authors: Mohajeri, Mohammad, Bianconi, Vanessa, Ávila-Rodriguez, Marco Fidel, Barreto, George E., Jamialahmadi, Tannaz, Pirro, Matteo, Sahebkar, Amirhossein
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2020
• Subjects: androgen; Androgen Antagonists - adverse effects; Androgen Antagonists - therapeutic use; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - therapeutic use; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; cancer; curcumin; Curcumin - adverse effects; Curcumin - therapeutic use; estrogen; Estrogen Receptor Modulators - adverse effects; Estrogen Receptor Modulators - therapeutic use; Female; Genital Neoplasms, Female - drug therapy; Genital Neoplasms, Female - metabolism; Genital Neoplasms, Female - pathology; Genital Neoplasms, Male - drug therapy; Genital Neoplasms, Male - metabolism; Genital Neoplasms, Male - pathology; Gonadal Steroid Hormones - antagonists & inhibitors; Gonadal Steroid Hormones - metabolism; hormonal activity; Humans; Male; Signal Transduction; Treatment Outcome; b-FGF; BC; CPM; MCP-1; estrogen; TIMP-1; SAR; NF-kB; MHC; AP-1; EGFR; PIAS; CBP; DHT; CYP11A1; VEGFR; ICOS; TNBC; PSA; curcumin; Cur; androgen; IL; TRAMP; HSD3B2; hormonal activity; EGCG; VEGF; STAT3; Akt; RTKs; ER; ASC-J9; AR; PSMA; PAC; PC; PLGA; AKR1C-2; MMP-2; CDK4; JAK; DCIS; miR; cancer; HC; HER2; CRPC
• ISSN: 1043-6618; 1096-1186
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104765

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Curcumin (Cur) is an active derivative extracted from turmeric which exerts a wide range of interactions with biomolecules through complex signaling pathways. Cur has been extensively shown to possess potential antitumor properties. In addition, there is growing body of evidence suggesting that Cur may exert potential anti-estrogen and anti-androgen activity. In vitro and in vivo studies suggest that anticancer properties of Cur against tumors affecting the reproductive system in females and males may be underlied by the Cur-mediated inhibition of androgen and estrogen signaling pathways. In this review we examine various studies assessing the crosstalk between Cur and both androgen and estrogen hormonal activity. Also, we discuss the potential chemopreventive and antitumor role of Cur in the most prevalent cancers affecting the reproductive system in females and males.