Friday, March 27, 2015

10 of The Most Functional Foods In The World Which Destroy Cancer Cells

10 of The Most Functional Foods In The World Which Destroy Cancer Cells

Many specific proteins, enzymes and coding within our immune system may be activated to kill cancer cells. There is no such thing as a cancer cell that cannot be defeated by the human immune system. The difference between cancers that grow and those that don't are what we put in our bodies to prohibit their growth. Proteins can be rendered ineffective if cells experience uncontrolled growth though damage or mutations to DNA or if toxins through food and chemical pollution override the immune system's natural function. Here are 10 functional foods which suppresses tumour development during immune surveillance in the human body.
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Scientists have found that healthy cells damaged by chemotherapy secreted more of a protein which boosts cancer cell survival. Chemotherapy has been proven to cause cancer cells to interact with nearby tumour cells and cause them to grow, invade, and importantly, resist subsequent therapy. Where conventional medical treatment fails cancer patients, natural foods succeed.

In a study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, scientists identified a molecule, known as TIC10, which activates a protein that helps fight the disease. The protein, called TRAIL (tumour-necrosis-factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) suppresses tumour development it can actually cross the blood-brain barrier, which separates the main circulatory system from the brain.

Through the body's infinite wisdom, its systems recognize foreign invaders and poisons such as chemotherapy which are not beneficial for the brain. Many cancer drugs are consequently blocked from passing the blood-brain barrier. However, TRAIL is permitted passage due to its beneficial effects on the immune system. 

Another positive is that TIC10 does not just activate the TRAIL gene in cancerous cells, but also in healthy ones. This is known as the 'bystander effect' - i.e. where cells near cancerous cells are also killed.
Nearby healthy cells are also given a boost to increase the number of cancer-killing TRAIL receptors on their cell surface.

10 FUNCTIONAL FOODS THAT INHIBIT TUMORS
 

1. TurmericCurcumin, possibly the most powerful antioxidant known from the popular Indian spice Turmeric, has countless health benefits. A recent study led by a research team in Munich showed that it can also inhibit formation of metastases.

Curcumin exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects by inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), suggesting that its effect on endothelial function may be mediated by the suppression of inflammation and/or oxidative stress via down-regulation of TNF-alpha. 

One of the most comprehensive summaries of a review of 700 turmeric studies to date was published by the respected ethnobotanist James A. Duke, Phd. He showed that turmeric appears to outperform many pharmaceuticals in its effects against several chronic, debilitating diseases, and does so with virtually no adverse side effects. 

2. Sea Vegetables
Nori, hijiki, wakame, arame, kombu and kelp are just a few of several varieties of sea vegetables with potent effects on cancer. They are a rich source of many wonderful minerals, including magnesium, calcium, iron, and bioavailable iodine. 

But since chronic, unwanted inflammation and chronic oxidative stress are both risk factors for development of cancer, it would be quite natural for scientists to be interested in sea vegetables are anti-cancer foods not only in the case of colon cancer, but for other types of cancer as well. Sea vegetables are well-researched as containing a variety of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, and this nutrient combination delivers some risk-lowering benefits in the case of colon cancer and other cancer types.
Of special note in this area of cancer and sea vegetables is the issue of estrogen-related cancers, especially breast cancer. Intake of sea vegetables appears able to modify various aspects of a woman's normal menstrual cycle in such a way that over long periods of time (tens of years) the total cumulative estrogen secretion that occurs during the follicular phase of the cycle gets reduced.
3. Grapes and Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a phenolic compound that contributes to the antioxidant potential of red grapes.

Resveratrol is not only an antioxidant and antimutagen, but also reduces oxidant-caused cell death. Resveratrol has been shown to inhibit production of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-A) by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated Kuppfer cells. Kuppfer cells are macrophages fixed in place in the liver. Their chronic overproduction of nitric oxide and TNF-A due to chronic infection can cause severe liver damage. 

Perhaps Resveratrol's most important property is its ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 (CoX-2). CoX-2 is related to cancers and abnormal growths in the intestinal tract. Natural CoX-2 inhibitors such as resveratrol have been shown to reduce the occurrence of cancers and pre-cancerous growths. So while pharmaceutical companies race to find complex agents that inhibit CoX-2, the ingredient is already present in red grapes which if consumed daily (or via organic grape juice) will protect against tumors naturally. 

4. Chlorella and Spirulina 

Scientists in South Korea recently found that carotenoids from chlorella may be effectively used to prevent cancer in humans. They discovered the primary carotenoid from C. ellipsoidea is violaxanthin, while the major carotenoid from C. vulgaris is lutein. They examined the activity of semi-purified extracts of these carotenoids against human cancer and found they inhibited cancer cell growth in a dose-dependent manner.

Chlorophyll neutralizes environmental toxins and pollutants. It helps the blood carry oxygen to all cells and tissues. Cancer cannot thrive in cells that are fully oxygenated. Chlorophyll plays a part in chlorella's ability to detoxify heavy metals, and is a natural wound healer. There is evidence that chlorophyll reduces the ability of carcinogens to bind with DNA in major organs. Its anti-mutagenic properties make it protective against toxins such as pharmaceutical drugs.

Spirulina simply is unable to remove heavy metals like chlorella does, as it lacks a cell membrane, however it shows significant immune-boosting properties. It is is made of a spiral strand which gives it its name. Spirulina is rich in vitamins B, E, K and beta carotene as well as iron and magnesium and essential fatty acids. It contains amino acids that promote improved mental functioning, vitality and energy, and balanced blood sugar. According to a study done in China, selenium-infused spirulina inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells.

5. Green TeaThe health benefits of green tea are due to the presence of a group of plant flavonoids called catechins. Of particular interest to researchers is epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), the primary catechin in green tea. For example, South Korean researchers have found that EGCG blocks TNF naturally by interfering with the ability of certain pro-inflammatory chemicals to bind to cells of smooth muscle tissue of the vascular system. In a 2009 study conducted by the Chonbuk National University Medical School, it was noted that the specific mechanism of action of EGCG in terms of blocking TNF is the suppression of fractalkine, an inflammatory agent specifically involved in the development of arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.

6. Cruciferous Vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables contain vitamins, minerals, other nutrients, and chemicals known as glucosinolates. These chemicals break down into several biologically active compounds that are known to possess anticancer effects. Arugula, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, turnips and collard greens are a few among many different types of cruciferous vegetables which are rich in nutrients, including several carotenoids (beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin); vitamins C, E, and K; folate; and minerals. Biologically active compounds such as indoles, nitriles, thiocyanates, and isothiocyanates in these vegetables prevent cancer by protecting cells from DNA damage, helping inactivate carcinogens, inducing cell death of carcinogens and inhibiting tumor blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) and tumor cell migration (needed for metastasis). For total glucosinolate content, turnip greens outscore cabbage, kale, cauliflower, and broccoli among the most commonly eaten cruciferous vegetables. 

7. Tomatoes 

Regular consumption of tomato and its products is being consistently associated with lower risk of several types of cancer and, to a lesser extent, coronary heart disease. Among the many tomato components credited with healthful properties, carotenoids and particularly lycopene are being actively investigated. 

Modest effects of the regular intake of a tomato juice provides small amounts of carotenoids which were found on the production of inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha production by whole blood was found to be more than 30% lower after almost a month of consuming raw tomato juice.

8. Medicinal MushroomsMushrooms have been used for at least 5000 years for nutritional and medicinal purposes. Anti-viral and anti-cancer effects have been demonstrated in more than 50 species through animal and in vitro studies. Six components of these mushrooms have been investigated for their activity in human cancers: the lentinan component of shiitake, schizophyllan, active hexose correlated compound (AHCC), maitake D-fraction and two components of Coriolus versicolor

Coriolus versicolor is an extremely common polypore mushroom which can be found throughout the world.Versicolor means 'of several colours' and it is true that this mushroom is found in a wide variety of different colours as depicted in the image above. It is also recognized as a medicinal mushroom in Chinese medicine under the name yun zhi.

Polysaccharide-K (PSK), is a protein-bound polysaccharide isolated from Trametes versicolor, which is used as an immune system boosting agent in the treatment of cancer in some European countries as well as China and Japan. In Japan, PSK is approved as an adjuvant for cancer therapy and is covered by government health insurance. 

PSK displays anticancer activity from preliminary laboratory assessments in vitro, in vivo and in human clinical trials. Preliminary research has shown that the PSK might reduce mutagen-induced, radiation-induced, and spontaneously-induced development of experimental cancer cell preparations.

9. GarlicThe study, published online in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, notes that Chinese medicine has used garlic since 2000 BCE. The authors suggest compounds such as diallyl sulfide--that are released when a garlic bulb breaks into cloves--may contribute to the herb's potential preventative powers.

A number of studies on garlic have appeared dealing with diallyl sulfide and cancer. One from the Republic of Korea cites diallyl disulfide (DADS) as the most prevalent oil-soluble sulfur compound in garlic, inhibiting cell proliferation in many cell lines. Scientists there examined DADS ability to kill cells in a process involving free radical production. They found that the famous tumor suppressor gene, p53, arrested the cell cycle when DADS treatment was present. Cancer cells died following 24 hour DADS treatment that activated the p53 gene. They also found that DADS induced cell death was prevented by treatment with a compound known to prevent p53 dependent cell death by reducing free radical levels in the mitochrondria, the cellular furnaces. Their results showed that mitochrondrial free radicals may serve as second messengers in DADS-induced cell death, which requires activation of p53. That study was found in the Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology.

Allicin - which gives garlic its aroma and flavour - acts as the world's most powerful antioxidant. Allicin compound has to decompose in order to generate a potent antioxidant. The reaction between the sulfenic acid and radicals is as fast as it can get, limited only by the time. Garlic oil and powder supplements are produced by distilling fresh garlic, and then diluting it with other substances rendering them ineffective. This process destroys the majority of allicin in garlic. AlliMAX is the only nutraceutical with a difference as it is the only one to provide the body with a guaranteed 100% yield of pure stabilized allicin extract. 

10. Hemp
Hemp oil promotes full body healing and raises melatonin levels thousands of times higher than normal. When the pineal gland produces vast amounts of melatonin, it causes no harm to the body but it is very hard on the condition you are suffering from and indeed can eliminate it.

Melatonin has been shown to slow or stop the growth of several types of cancer cells and even treat cancer. Some of the studies have suggested that melatonin may extend survival and improve quality of life for patients with certain types of untreatable cancers such as advanced lung cancer and melanoma. Some studies reported that a small number of cancers went into total or partial remission

Peer-reviewed and published research has shown melatonin offers particularly strong protection against reproductive cancers. Cells throughout your body -- even cancer cells -- have melatonin receptors. So when melatonin makes its nightly rounds, cell division slows. When this hormone latches onto a breast cancer cell, it has been found to counteract estrogen's tendency to stimulate cell growth.

For almost a decade, Rick Simpson has been showing people how to cure cancer with hemp oil. Both the commercial legal type of hemp oil and the illegal THC laden hemp oil are the most power-packed protein sources available in the plant kingdom. Its oil can be used in many nutritional and transdermal applications. 

Hemp oil is one of the richest sources of essential amino acids and essential fatty acids, providing an excellent balance between omega-3, -6 and -9 fatty acids. All of these substances are currently being discussed, not only in the alternative health scene, but also by the food industry, which is searching for suitable ingredients to create so called 'functional foods'.

Sources:cancer.gov 
nutraingredients.com
phoenixtears.ca 
cancer.org 
sacredearth.com 
preventdisease.com

purehealthsystems.com 
whfoods.com
Dave Mihalovic is a Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in vaccine research, cancer prevention and a natural approach to treatment.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Turmeric's 'Smart Kill' Properties Put Chemo & Radiation To Shame

Turmeric's 'Smart Kill' Properties Put Chemo & Radiation To Shame
Posted on:   Sunday, March 22nd 2015   Written By: Sayer Ji, Founder

The ancient Indian spice turmeric strikes again! A new study finds turmeric extract selectively and safely killing cancer stem cells in a way that chemo and radiation can not.
A groundbreaking new study published in the journal Anticancer Research reveals that one of the world's most extensively researched and promising natural compounds for cancer treatment: the primary polyphenol in the ancient spice turmeric known as curcumin, has the ability to selectively target cancer stem cells, which are at the root of cancer malignancy, while having little to no toxicity on normal stem cells, which are essential for tissue regeneration and longevity.
Titled, "Curcumin and Cancer Stem Cells: Curcumin Has Asymmetrical Effects on Cancer and Normal Stem Cells," the study describes the wide range of molecular mechanisms presently identified by which curcumin attacks cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are the minority subpopulation of self-renewing cells within a tumor colony, and which alone are capable of producing all the other cells within a tumor, making them the most lethal, tumoriogenic of all cells within most if not all cancers.  Because CSCs are resistant to chemotherapy, radiation, and may even be provoked towards increased invasiveness through surgical intervention, they are widely believed to be responsible for tumor recurrence and the failure of conventional treatment.

The study identified the following 8 molecular mechanisms by which curcumin targets and kills cancer stem cells:
·         Down-regulation of interleukin-6 (IL-6): IL-6 is classified as a cytokine (a potent biomolecule released by the immune system) and modulates both immunity and inflammation. It's over expression has been linked to the progression from inflammation to cancer. Curcumin inhibits IL-6 release, which in turn prevents CSC stimulation.
·         Down-regulation of interleukin-8 (IL-8): IL-8, another cytokine, is released after tumor cell death, subsequently stimulating CSCs to regrow the tumor and resist chemotherapy. Curcumin both inhibits IL-8 production directly and indirectly.
·         Down-regulation of interleukin-1 (IL-1): IL-1, a family of cytokines, are involved in response to injury and infection, with IL-1 β playing a key role in cancer cell growth and the stimulation of CSCs. Curcumin inhibits IL-1 both directly and indirectly.  
·         Decrease CXCR1 and CXCR2 binding: CXCR1 and CXCR2 are proteins expressed on cells, including CSCs, which respond to the aforementioned cytokines in a deleterious manner. Curcumin has been found to not only block cytokine release, but their binding to these two cellular targets.
·         Modulation of the Wnt signaling pathway: The Wnt signaling pathway regulates a wide range of processes during embryonic development, but are also dsyregulated in cancer. Curcumin has been found to have a corrective action on Wnt signaling.
·         Modulation of the Notch Pathway: The Notch signaling pathway, also involved in embryogenesis, plays a key role in regulating cell differentiation, proliferation and programmed cell death (apoptosis), as well as the functioning of normal stem cells. Aberrant Notch signaling has been implicated in a wide range of cancers. Curcumin has been found to suppress tumor cells along the Notch pathway.
·         Modulation of the Hedgehog Pathways: Another pathway involved in embryogenesis, the Hedgehog pathway also regulates normal stem cell activity. Abnormal functioning of this pathway is implicated in a wide range of cancers and in the stimulation of CSCs and associated increases in tumor recurrence after conventional treatment. Curcumin has been found to inhibit the Hedgehog pathway through a number of different mechanisms.
·         Modulation of the FAK/AKT/FOXo3A Pathway: This pathway plays a key role in regulating normal stem cells, with aberrant signaling stimulating CSCs, resulting once again in tumor recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy. Curcumin has been found
·         in multiple studies to destroy CSCs through inhibiting this pathway.
As you can see through these eight examples above, curcumin exhibits a rather profound level of complexity, modulating numerous molecular pathways simultaneously. Conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy is incapable of such delicate and "intelligent" behavior, as it preferentially targets fast-replicating cells by damaging their DNA in the vulnerable mitosis stage of cell division, regardless of whether they are benign, healthy or cancerous cells.  Curcumin's selective cytotoxicity, on the other hand, targets the most dangerous cells – the cancer stem cells – which leaving unharmed the normal cells, as we will now learn more about below.

Curcumin and Normal Stem Cells
Normal stem cells (NSCs) are essential for health because they are responsible for differentiating into normal cells that are needed to replace damaged or sick ones. If curcumin were to kill normal cells, like radiation and chemotherapy, it would not provide a compelling alternative to these treatments.  The study addressed this point:
"The safety of curcumin has been long established, as it has been used for centuries as a dietary spice. The question arises as to why curcumin does not seem to have the same deleterious effects on normal stem cells (NSCs) as it does on CSCs. There are several possible reasons that curcumin has toxic effects on CSCs, while sparing NSCs."
The study offered three potential explanations for curcumin's differential or selective cytotoxicity:
·         Malignant cells take in much more curcumin than normal cells.
·         Curcumin alters the microenvironment of cells in such a way that is adverse to CSCs and beneficial to NSCs.
·         Curcumin may not only directly attack CSCs, but may encourage them to differentiate into non-lethal, more benign cells.
Concluding Remarks
This study adds growing support to the idea that safe, time-tested, natural substances are superior to synthetic ones. Given the evidence that a safe and effective alternative may already exist, chemotherapy, radiation and even surgery may no longer be justified as the first-line standard of care for cancer treatment. In fact, a significant body of evidence now implicates these treatments in worsening prognosis, and in some cases driving cancer stem cell enrichment in tumors. Radiotherapy, for instance, has been found to induce cancer stem cell like properties in breast cancer cells, essentially increasing their malignancy and tumoriogenicity by 30 fold.  This is hardly progress when one considers the role that CSCs play, especially in contributing to post-treatment secondary cancers.
Turmeric and its components, of course, are not FDA approved drugs, and by definition the FDA will not allow an unapproved substance, natural or synthetic, to prevent, treat, diagnosis or cure a disease.  This means that you will not be seeing it offered by an oncologist as an alternative to chemotherapy or radiation any time soon.  This does not, however, mean that it does not work. We have gathered over 1500 citations from the National Library of Medicine's bibliographic database MEDLINE, accessible through pubmed.gov, and which can be viewed on our database here: Turmeric Research, showing that curcumin and related turmeric components possess significant anti-cancer activity.  Truth be told, the information is so extensive, revealing over 700 possible health benefits, that I believe this plant embodies a form of intelligence and even compassion. You can learn more about this supposition here: Turmeric's Healing Power: A Physical Manifestation of Compassion?  I also discuss this concept in my lecture, Food As Medicine Rebooted, which you can watch below: Of course, the point is not to wait until one has such a severe health problem that taking heroic doses of spices or herbs becomes the focus. It is important to remember that ancient cultures used spices like turmeric mainly in culinary doses, as part of their dietary practices. These smaller amounts, delivered mainly as whole food extracts, likely constituted effective preventive strategies – perhaps preventing the need for radical, heroic intervention later in life. If you read our previous article, Turmeric: A Wellness Promoting Tonic at Low Doses, Research Reveals, you'll see this point explored in greater depth in light of a human clinical study.
For more research on turmeric and cancer, you can view our two database sections on these topics below:
·         Health Guide: Turmeric
·         Health Guide: Cancer Research


 Abstract. Curcumin has been shown to have numerous cytotoxic effects on cancer stem cells (CSCs). This is due to its suppression of the release of cytokines, particularly interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and IL-1, which stimulate CSCs, and also to its effects at multiple sites along CSC pathways, such as Wnt, Notch, Hedgehog and FAK. In spite of its multiple actions targeting CSCs, curcumin has little toxicity against normal stem cells (NSCs). This may be due to curcumin’s different effects on CSCs and NSCs. The use of cytotoxic therapies remains the standard treatment for patients with metastatic cancer. The efficacy of these treatments is limited, with recurrence common. According to the cancer stem cell paradigm, cancers contain distinct subpopulations of cancer stem/progenitor cells (CSCs) characterized by self-renewal mechanisms and resistance to conventional treatments (1-3). When CSCs are transferred to an immune-deficient mouse, these cells can reconstitute the original cancer in the animal (4-6). Even a small number of stem cells (as few as 100) can be effective in bringing about the transplantation (7). However, tumors depleted of stem cells do not grow as xenografts (8). These CSCs have been shown to be resistant to chemotherapy (9), radiation (10) and hormone therapy (11). For this reason, metastases from solid tumors, in particular, will re-appear even after initially successful treatments and prolonged periods of complete remission. Further, an unintended consequence of induced cancer cell death is the release of inflammatory cytokines, which can stimulate replication of CSCs (12-14). The percentage of CSCs in the cancer has been shown to increase in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (9, 15, 16). Thus, an “equilibrium” may be formed where chemotherapy-induced tumor cell death results in increased stimulation of tumor growth (12). In addition, the cytokines secreted during induced cancer cell death can result in resistance to cytotoxic agents, so that metastases, when they occur, may be refractory to therapy (14, 17, 18). This suggests, for therapy to be effective on a consistent basis, it must eliminate both CSCs and non-stem cell cancer cells. Curcumin and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) IL-6 (also known as interferon (IFN)-β2) is a multi-functional cytokine involved in the immune and inflammatory response and progression from inflammation to cancer. Increased IL-6 activity has been found in multiple cancers, including multiple myeloma, as well as breast, colon and prostate carcinoma, and IL-6 has been associated with decreased survival and more aggressive disease in these patients (19-22). IL-6 signals through a heterodimeric receptor complex that contains the ligand binding IL-6α chain (CD126) and the common cytokine receptor signal-transducing subunit glycoprotein-130 (gp130, CD130) (19, 23). This leads to activation of the JAK family of tyrosine kinases (Janus kinases), which stimulate multiple pathways, including MAPK, STAT-3 and AKT (19, 23-25). IL-6 promotes chemoresistance, angiogenesis and invasion (12, 17, 26-29). Furthermore, IL-6 has been shown to convert regular cancer cells to CSCs in established breast and prostate cancer cell lines (12). When investigators in this latter study added an anti-IL-6 antibody to the culture medium, this did not occur, demonstrating the crucial role of IL-6 in non-stem cell cancer cell to CSC conversion (12). Shi et al. used multiple chemotherapy agents, including 5- fluorouracil, paclitaxel and doxorubicin, standard drugs for the 599 This article is freely accessible online. Correspondence to: Lawrence Helson, MD, SignPath Pharma, Inc., 1375 California Road, Quakertown, PA 18951, U.S.A. Tel: +1 2155389996, Fax: +1 2155381245, e-mail: lhelson@comcast.net Key Words: Curcumin, cancer stem cells, interleukin-6, interleukin- 8, interleukin-1, CXCR1, CXCR2, Wnt pathway, Notch pathway, Hedgehog pathway, FAK pathway, review. ANTICANCER RESEARCH 35: 599-614 (2015) Review Curcumin and Cancer Stem Cells: Curcumin Ηas Asymmetrical Effects on Cancer and Normal Stem Cells PETER P. SORDILLO and LAWRENCE HELSON SignPath Pharma, Inc., Quakertown, PA, U.S.A. 0250-7005/2015 $2.00+.40 treatment of breast cancer, to induce formation of the multidrug-resistant tumor breast cancer cell line MCF-7/R (30). IL- 6 levels were markedly increased in the line previously treated with chemotherapy compared to the untreated line. Suppression of IL-6 and companion cytokine IL-8 in this study was shown to reverse the multi-drug resistance in the treated cell line, while increased expression of IL-6 or IL-8 increased the resistance of the cells to treatment. One mechanism by which curcumin targets CSCs is inhibition of IL-6 release from cells, thus preventing CSC stimulation. Curcumin has been shown to decrease IL-6 levels or inhibit IL-6 function in multiple experimental systems. Jain et al. studied the effects of curcumin on the human promonocytic cell line U937, which had been maintained with a high concentration of glucose. A marked inhibition of IL-6 secretion from the monocytes was noted (31). This effect was dose-dependent. The investigators also studied rats with streptozoticin-induced hyperglycemia. The diabetic animals demonstrated high IL-6 levels compared to controls. Curcumin significantly reduced the previously elevated IL-6 levels (31). In another study, curcumin was found to prevent IL-6 expression in human rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts (32). Moriasi et al. found that IL-6 expression could be suppressed in a colon cancer cell line treated with curcumin (33). Cohen et al. reported that curcumin inhibited IL-6 production in four head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (34). Of note was the fact that this effect was also dose-dependent, with the more aggressive head and neck carcinoma cell lines demonstrating higher levels of IL-6 before treatment and requiring higher concentrations of curcumin to inhibit IL-6 compared to the less aggressive cell lines. Similarly, a dosedependent decrease in IL-6 levels was found in human pancreatic cell lines after treatment with a nanoparticleencapsulated formulation of curcumin (35). Curcumin was shown to block production of IL-6 in an experimental acute pancreatitis rat model (36). Bharti et al. reported that curcumin was able to block IL-6-induced STAT-3 phosphorylation in a multiple myeloma cell line (37). The curcumin analog FLLL3 was also shown to reduce IL-6-induced STAT-3 phosphorylation (38). Park et al. showed that curcumin increased the activity of bortezomib against human multiple myeloma U266 cells by decreasing IL-6 production and blocking STAT-3 phosphorylation (39). Curcumin and Interleukin-8 (IL-8) IL-8 (CXCL8) is an important cytokine, which increases after tumor cell death, stimulates CSCs and results in tumor regrowth and resistance to chemotherapy (18, 40). IL-8 is a 72- amino-acid protein belonging to the CXC cytokine family. This cytokine has numerous functions including the induction of neutrophil chemotaxis, neutrophil activation, regulation of cell adhesion, promotion of angiogenesis, histamine release and regulation of receptor protein signaling pathways (13, 41- 45). Release of IL-8 can be caused by many stimuli, including infection, trauma, hypoxia, acidosis, corticosteroids, androgens or chemotherapy (18, 46-47). Docetaxel, a commonly-used chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of prostate, breast, lung and ovarian cancers, has been shown to markedly increase IL-8 levels (48). As with IL-6, elevated levels of IL- 8 have been detected in human cancers and have been associated with a poor prognosis (13, 49-52). IL-8 has been found to increase tumor growth in cancer cell lines and in xenografts (53-57). Curcumin is a potent inhibitor of IL-8 production, as well as of numerous IL-8 cancer-promoting bio-activities. Hidaka et al. measured IL-8 levels in the human pancreatic carcinoma cell line SUIT-2 after incubation with 10-100 μM concentration of curcumin. The magnitude of the decrease in IL-8 production was dose-dependent. The investigators also reported that curcumin markedly reduced IL-8 receptor internalization. These changes were accompanied by marked suppression of tumor cell growth (58). Curcumin prevented the acid-induced production of IL-8 in human esophageal epithelial cells (59) and reduced IL-8 levels in cultured monocytes previously treated with a high concentration glucose (31). Curcumin caused a dose-dependent blockage of IL-8 production in human head and neck carcinoma cell lines (34). Wang et al. reported that curcumin suppressed neurotensin-mediated IL-8 production in the human colon cancer line HCT166, thus blocking colon cancer cell migration (60). It has been reported that curcumin blocked IL-8 release in alveolar epithelial cells (61) and in human peripheral blood monocytes and alveolar macrophages (62). Curcumin was found to reduce chronic non-bacterial prostatitis in rats by blocking IL-8 release (63). Curcumin and Interleukin-1 (IL-1) The interleukin-1 family is a group of proteins intimately involved in the body’s response to injury or infection (64-66) but which also play a key role in the development and spread of tumors (67-70). Voronou et al. have shown that one of these cytokines, IL-1β, is required for tumor angiogenesis (71). Elevated levels of IL-1β have been found in patients with cancer (72), while increased cancer cell growth after IL-1β stimulation has been found in multiple experimental systems (73-75). Li et al. found that this cytokine was effective in stimulating the growth of a subpopulation of cancer cells with characteristics of CSCs (74). As with IL-8, curcumin inhibits the production of IL-1β and other cytokines by monocytes and macrophages (62). Kloesch et al. found that curcumin caused significant antiinflammatory effects against fibroblast-like synoviocytes, by blocking IL-1β and IL-6 (32). Curcumin has been shown to block NF-ĸB activation induced by this cytokine in bone ANTICANCER RESEARCH 35: 599-614 (2015) 600 marrow stromal cells (76), human articular chondrocytes (77- 78) and colonic epithelial cells (79). Kalinski et al. have shown that IL-1β-induced NF-ĸB gene expression could be blocked by curcumin in two human chondrosarcoma cell lines (80). They also showed that curcumin blocked recruitment of the receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) to the IL-1 receptor, thus preventing signaling. Inhibition of IRAK likely occurs because of curcumin’s blockage of IRAK thiols. CXCR1 and CXCR2 Cytokines of the CXC family bind to transmembrane (7-TM) proteins on the target cell, primarily CXCR1 and CXCR2 (81-86). While CXCR2 binds multiple cytokines, including GROα (CXCL1) and GROβ (CXCL2), CXCR1 only binds IL-8 and CXCL6 (87). CXCR1 appears to be the most important mediator of IL-8-stimulated chemotaxis (85). These receptors occur not only on leukocytes but also on tumor cells, as well as on most normal cells (46, 88-89). Increased production of inflammatory cytokines can, thus, result in increased stimulation of CXCR1 and CXCR2 on tumor cells, particularly on CSCs (51, 53, 90). Studies on human cancer cells lines have confirmed that malignant cells respond to the effects of autocrine/paracrine IL-8 signaling, resulting in cell proliferation and metastases (91-95). Therefore, it has been suggested that these receptors may be primary targets for prevention of tumor growth and recurrence (58, 90, 96-98). Ginestier et al. has reported that in both human breast cancer cell lines and human breast cancer cells heterotransplanted into nude mice, the use of an anti-CXCR1 antibody, or of repertaxin, a CXCR1 inhibitor, not only caused a reduction in the number of bulk tumor cells but a major reduction in CSCs as well (48). Likewise, the CXCR2 antagonist A210397767 has been shown to inhibit leukocyte-infiltration into cancerous tissue, thus retarding tumor growth (99). In addition to blocking cytokine release, curcumin inhibits cytokine bioactivities by its actions against CXCR1 and CXCR2 (58, 100). For example, Hidaka et al. have reported that curcumin has major effects on cytokine function by both a reduction of IL-8 production and an effect on CXCR1 and CXCR2. Curcumin was found to regulate the “recycling” of CXCR1 and CXCR2 from the cytoplasm to the cell surface, thus preventing cytokine-induced receptor internalization (58). In another study, by the same investigators, Takahashi et al. reported that curcumin’s prevention of IL-8-induced neutrophil chemotaxis appears to occur because of the regulation by curcumin of the Rab11 trafficking molecule, a low-molecular weight G protein (101, 102), which in malignant cells associates more with CXCR1 and CXCR2. The anti-CSC effect induced by curcumin is caused by the stacking of the Rab 11 vesicle complex with CXCR1 and CXCR2 in the endocytic pathway (41). The Wnt Pathways The Wnt signaling pathways regulate multiple processes during embryonic development, as well as gene transcription, cell migration, cell proliferation and tissue homeostasis in the adult organism (103-107). These pathways occur in multiple species, including drosophila, where much of the original work was done, as well as mice and humans (103). Mutations involving the Wnt pathways have been shown to lead to the development of multiple diseases including type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, autism, osteoporosis and schizophrenia (106, 108-113), as well as to multiple types of cancer (103, 105, 114-118). Wnt signaling regulates levels of the protein β- catenin. Wnt signaling is associated with a decrease in β- catenin phosphorylation, so β-catenin accumulates and, in turn, stimulates the genes for VEGF, cyclin D1 and c-Myc. Aberrant Wnt signaling and excessive levels of β-catenin can result in carcinogenesis and uncontrolled cell proliferation. Kanwar et al. studied colon carcinoma cells that had been made resistant to FOLFOX chemotherapy and were enriched with CSCs (119). These cells can be made to grow in spheroid colonies called colonospheres. Decreased levels of phosphorylated β-catenin, a marker of β-catenin degradation, and increasing levels of β-catenin were associated with an increased number of cells in the colonosphere that were positive for CD44+. Decreased levels of β-catenin were correlated with a decreased number of CSCs and decreased colonosphere formation. Similar results were found with mammospheres by Korkaya et al. (120). Zhao et al. developed a strain of β-catenin deficient mice and reported that the absence of β-catenin resulted in the impairment of selfrenewal of both normal hematopoetic stem cells and chronic myelogenous leukemia stem cells (121). Curcumin modulates Wnt signaling. Karkarala et al. have shown that curcumin can inhibit Wnt signaling and the formation of mammospheres in breast cancer cell lines, as well as in normal breast cell lines (122). Likewise, curcumin has been shown to cause a marked decrease in cell migration and invasion in a human osteosarcoma cell line (123). This effect was dose-dependent. In this study, no change in the cytosolic β-catenin was seen but there was a marked decrease in nuclear β-catenin with curcumin. Evidence indicates that curcumin can act at multiple points along the Wnt pathway. Xu et al. reported that curcumin induced apoptosis in a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line by decreasing β-catenin activity, thus reducing stimulation of the β-catenin target genes (124). They suggested this was an effect of the maintenance of the β-catenin destruction complex by curcumin, which prevented axin recruitment to the cell membrane (124). In a human head and neck carcinoma cell line, MDA-1986, curcumin reduced cell growth by increasing activating factor 3, thus causing the inhibition of the receptor Frizzled-1 (125). Prasad studied the effects of curcumin on the human breast Sordillo and Helson: Curcumin and Cancer Stem Cells (Review) 601 cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 and found that curcumin blocked malignant cell growth at multiple sites along this pathway, causing suppression of β-catenin, cyclinD1, slug and dishevelled and also altering the levels of Ecadherin and GSK3β (126). Derivatives of curcumin have been shown to inhibit colon cancer cells by decreasing the amount of the transcriptional coactivator p300 (127). The Notch Pathway Like the Wnt pathways, the Notch pathway has been conserved among species through evolution. The Notch signaling pathway plays a critical role in regulating cell differentiation, cell proliferation and apoptosis (128-133). Notch signaling is known to regulate the functioning of normal stem cells (134-139). Aberrant Notch signaling has been implicated in the progression from Barrett’s esophagus to esophageal carcinoma (140-141), as well as in the development of carcinomas of the breast, lung and pancreas, of multiple myeloma and of other cancers (142-146). The role of the Notch pathway in the preservation of CSCs has been emphasized (8, 147). A ten-fold increase in mammosphere formation was seen after addition of a Notch activating peptide to a breast cancer cell line (139). Phillips showed that the number of breast cancer stem cells could be increased by the use of recombinant human erythropoetin, which stimulated the Notch pathway by induction of Jagged-1 (148). Curcumin acts to suppress tumor cells at multiple sites along the Notch pathway. Liu et al. showed that increasing doses of curcumin caused increasing inhibition of SMMC- 7721 hepatoma cells in culture and these changes paralleled decreases in NOTCH-1 mRNA and protein expression (149). Subramanian et al. showed that curcumin inhibited the formation of esophagospheres through its actions on the Notch pathway causing capsase 3 activation and reducing Notch-1 activation through reduction of γ-secretase complex proteins (142). Kong showed that curcumin inhibited Notch-1 activity in two prostate cancer cell lines by down-regulating the genes MT1-MMP and its target molecule MMP2 (150). Aziz et al. showed curcumin caused destruction of hepatoma cells through down-regulation of Notch-1 and its target genes HES1 and CyclinD1 (CCND1) (151). The Hedgehog Pathways Like the Wnt and Notch pathways, the Hedgehog pathways have a key role in embryonic development (152-154), as well as the regulation of normal stem cell activity (155-157). Three, closely related, pathways are known but the Sonic Hedgehog pathway (Shh) is the most investigated. Abnormal functioning of the Hedgehog pathways has been implicated in the development of many types of cancer and has been associated with stimulation of CSCs, thus, with an increased risk of tumor recurrence after therapy (158-161). It has also been shown that blockage of the Hedgehog pathway can suppress CSCs and reverse chemoresistance (162-164). Tumorigenesis occurs in these pathways because of the 7-transmembrane protein Smoothened. Smoothened is normally suppressed by the 12-transmembrane proteins Patched-1 and Patched-2. During aberrant Hedgehog signaling, one of the Hh proteins is released and binds to Patched, freeing Smoothened and leading to the activation of the transcription factors Gli2 and Gli3, which cause transcription of the target genes, such as GLI1, cyclinD (CCND1), cyclinE (CCNE), Patched 1 (PTCH1), c-MYC and n-MYC (165-167). Curcumin can inhibit these pathways by multiple mechanisms. Sun et al. studied the effects of curcumin on the pancreatic carcinoma cell line PANC-1 and found a marked inhibition of cell proliferation (168-169). Significant decreases in Shh and Gli1 expression were noted, suggesting one of curcumin’s many effects is through suppression of the Hedgehog pathway. Elamin et al. studied curcumin’s effect on medulloblastoma cells and found cell-cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Down-regulation of Shh, Gli1 and Patched-1 was seen, as well as of effectors cyclinD1, c-Myc and n-Myc (170). Lim et al. utilized a unique polymeric nanoparticle formulation of curcumin against medulloblastoma and glioblastoma cell lines and found inhibition of the expression of Gli1 and Patched-1, as well as marked reduction in the number of CSCs expressing the stem cell marker CD133 (171). Slusarz reported that curcumin caused major reductions in GLI1 mRNA concentrations in transgenic prostate carcinoma (TRAMP) mice and in prostate carcinoma cell lines (172). The FAK/AKT/FOXO3A Pathway The FAK/AKT/FOXO3A pathway plays an important role in the regulation of normal stem cells (173-174). Aberrant signaling through the pathway can stimulate the formation of CSCs, resulting in tumor recurrence and the conferring of resistance to chemotherapy (175-178). Under normal conditions, activity of this pathway is suppressed by the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), which acts as a tumor suppressor gene (179-181). Inhibition of PTEN allows for uncontrolled pathway signaling, blocking apoptosis of CSCs. Loss or a deficiency of PTEN has been linked with many diseases, including autism (182). PTEN deficiency has been associated with myeloproliferative disorders and preleukemia (183-184). Loss of PTEN results in increases in CSCs in prostate cell lines (185), while epidemiological studies show that up to 70% of prostate cancer patients have lost a PTEN gene (186). Multiple investigators have shown that curcumin is effective in destroying CSCs by inhibition of this pathway. Shu et al. have shown that addition of curcumin to a human ANTICANCER RESEARCH 35: 599-614 (2015) 602 medulloblastoma cell line resulted in marked decreases in phosphorylated Akt and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), markers of FAK/AKT/FOXO3A pathway activity (187). Likewise, Chen et al. have shown that curcumin inhibited focal adhesion kinase (FAK, PTK2) phosphorylation at multiple sites (TYR397, 407, 576, 577, 861 and 925) in HCT- 116 colon carcinoma cells, causing pathway suppression and allowing apoptosis (188). Yu et al. reported similar results (189). Wang et al. showed that curcumin could inhibit this pathway in human bladder carcinoma cells by increasing the activity of PTEN (190). Hussain et al. showed that addition of curcumin to T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia caused the de-phosphorylation of Akt and of FOXO transcription factor, thus inhibiting the FAK/AKT/FOXO3A pathway and allowing apoptosis of cancer cells to proceed (191). Wu reported that curcumin caused apoptosis in a nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line by inducing p53 and FOXO3A, a downstream effector of PTEN (192). Curcumin and Normal Stem Cells The safety of curcumin has been long established, as it has been used for centuries as a dietary spice. The question arises as to why curcumin does not seem to have the same deleterious effects on normal stem cells (NSCs) as it does on CSCs. There are several possible reasons that curcumin has toxic effects on CSCs, while sparing NSCs. Curcumin has been shown to have a much greater uptake by malignant cells compared to normal cells. Kunwar et al. studied the differential uptake of curcumin and the fluorescence spectra of curcumin-loaded cells in two normal cell lines (NIH373 mouse fibroblast cells and a mouse spleen lymphocyte line) and in two malignant cell lines (MCF human breast carcinoma and EL4 murine T-cell lymphoma) (193). Much higher uptake was measured in the malignant lines. In addition, fluorescence intensity was at least 3-8 times greater in the two malignant cell lines. Since curcumin has been shown to accumulate more in cancer cells than in bulk tumor cells, it might be expected as well that it would accumulate more in CSCs compared to NSCs. Another explanation is that curcumin not only directly affects cells but their microenvironment as well. Under normal conditions, there is a delicate balance between proliferationpromoting and proliferation-inhibiting signals from the environment (194). Curcumin appears to shift the microenvironment around these cells to one that is adverse to proliferation of CSCs, but conducive to NSCs. As noted, curcumin has been shown to suppress the release of proinflammatory cytokines (Table I). A third explanation is that curcumin’s direct actions against CSCs may not be solely through its toxic effects. It has been suggested that it is possible to target CSCs not by causing cell death but by inducing these stem cells to differentiate. Many authors have suggested this as a strategy for depleting the CSC population and, thus, preventing recurrence (199-200). Almanaa et al. have suggested that induction of CSC differentiation may be one of the ways curcumin depletes CSCs. They tested cell lines that contained a large number (up to 40.4%) of ALDH1A1-stained cells with curcumin. After treatment, the cells with this stem cell marker were either markedly diminished or gone, suggesting either the destruction of the CSC population or their differentiation into less malignant cells (201). Studies have shown that curcumin indeed causes differentiation of both CSCs and NSCs. Gu et al. showed that curcumin can stimulate rat mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into osteoblasts (202). Likewise, Mujoo et al. showed curcumin could induce the differentiation of human embryonal stem cells (203). In another study, curcumin increased the differentiation rate of neural stem cells in rats (204). Curcumin was also shown to increase differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells in culture by suppression of NF-ĸB, one of the mechanisms by which curcumin attacks CSCs (205). Zhuang et al. showed that curcumin could cause the differentiation of glioblastoma– initiating cells in immunocompromised mice (206). Roy et al. have shown that difluorinated-curcumin could stimulate differentiation of colonic stem cells causing restoration of PTEN (207). Likewise, Batth et al. reported that curcumin could induce differentiation in a murine embryonal carcinoma cell line (208). These factors may help explain why curcumin has a less toxic effect against NSCs than on CSCs. Still, in view of curcumin’s activities at numerous sites along multiple cancer pathways, curcumin’s lack of substantial toxicity to Sordillo and Helson: Curcumin and Cancer Stem Cells (Review) 603 Table I. Curcumin: Suppression of key inflammatory cytokines. Cytokine Reference IL-6 (interferon-β2) 31-39, 59, 63 IL-8 (CXCL8) 31, 34, 35, 58-63, 79, 259 IL-1 32, 33, 62, 76-80, 259 TNF-α 31, 35, 36, 62, 63, 76, 78, 196, 259 MCP-1 (monocyte chemotactic protein-1) (CCL2) 31, 62, 257, 258 MIP-1α (macrophage inflammatory protein-α) 62 Interferon-γ 195, 196 IL-12 195, 196 IL-2 196 GROα (CXCL1) 197 GROβ (CXCL2) 197 SDF-1 (stromal cell-derived factor-1, CXCL12) 198 IP-10 (CXCL-10) 258 ANTICANCER RESEARCH 35: 599-614 (2015) 604 Effect on Pathway Effect on NSCs (Reference) Wnt ↓ Nuclear β-catenin (122*, 123, 124, 126, ↑ (204, 222) 127, 170*, 217, 224, 226, 227) ↓ c-Myc (123, 124, 170*, 223, 226, 227, 229, 268) ↓ Wnt 3 (127) ↑ (204, 222) ↓ Matrix metalloprotenase-2 (150, 219) ↓ Matrix metalloprotenase-9 (123, 229) ↑ Axin (124) ↓ (222) ↓ Frizzled-1 (125, 229) ↑ (222) ↓ SLUG (SNAI2) (126, 230, 242*) ↓ Dishevelled (126) ↑ (222) ↓ Transcriptional coactivator p300 (127) ↓ TcF/LeF (223, 226, 227, 229) ↑ (222) ↑ Adenomatous polyposis cell protein (229) ↓ (222) ↓ Nestin (206*) ↑ (222) ↑ β-tubulin (206*); ↓ (225) ↑ (222); ↓ (255) ↑ Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (WIF-1) (228) ↓ (222) ↓ BDNF (273) ↑ (272) ↓ EGFR (HER1) (244*) ↑ Dnmt 1 (DNA methyltransferase) (244*) ND – Neuro D1 ↑ (222) ND – DCX (Doublecortin) ↑ (222) ND – Neurogenin ↑ (222) ND – Neureglin ↑ (222) ND – Neuroligin ↑ (222) ND – Reelin ↑ (222) ND – Serotonin receptor 1A RNA ↑ (272) ND – Pax 6 (Aniridia type II protein) ↑ (222) ND – LRP5/6 ↑ (222) ND – DKK1 (Dickkorf-related protein 1) ↓ (220) ND – Wnt 1 ↔ (222) ND – Wnt 5 ↔ (222) Notch ↓ Notch-1 (142*, 149, 151, 243*, 266*) ↓ Notch-3 (243*) ↓ Jagged-1 (142*) ↑ Caspase 3 (142*, 190, 191, 215, ↓ (205, 232, 271+) 235, 236, 243*) ↑ Caspase 7 (239, 246*) ↑ Caspase 8 (235, 236) ↑ Caspase 9 (235, 239) ↓ (271+) ↑ PARP cleavage (215*, 235, 236, 239, ↓ (232) 243*, 245*) ↓ miR-21 (142*, 207*, 246*) ↓ miR-34a (142*) ↑ let 7a (142*) ↓ HES 1 (142*, 150, 151, 226*); ↔ (171*) ↔ HES 5 (171*) ↔ HEY 2 (171*) ↑ BAX (142*, 216) ↓ (270+) ↓ Presenilin 1 (142*) ↓ Presenilin 2 (142*) ↓ Nicastrin (142*) ↓ APH 1 (142*) ↓ PEN 2 (142*) ↑ p53 (192, 251); ↓ (267, 268) ↑ (233) ↑ p21/WAF1 (142*) ↑ (233) Effect on Pathway Effect on NSCs (Reference) Hedgehog ↓ Shh (168, 169, 170*) ↓ Gli-1(168, 169, 170*, 171*, 172) ↑ (222) ↓ Cyclin D1 (39, 123, 126, 142*, 151, 170*, 221, 224, 226, 229, 230, 239, 243*) ↓ Vimentin (169, 242*) ↓ Patched-1 (170*, 171*) ↑ Olig 2 (206*) ↑ E-cadherin (161, 188, 242*) ↑ GSK3β (126, 189, 191, 224, 234) ↓ (222) FAK ↓ Phosphorylation of Akt (170*, 171*, ↑ (269+) 187, 188, 189, 191, 207*) ↓ PI3K (187) ↓ VEGF (31, 219, 229, 230, 246*, 269) ↑ (269+); ↓(261**) ↓ VEGFR (269) ↑ (269+) ↓ Phosphorylated m-Tor/m-Tor (189, 269) ↑ (269+, 271+) ↓ HIF1α (hypoxia-inducible factor 1α) (269) ↑ (269+) ↓ Signal tranducer CD24 (188) ↑ Acetylation histone H1 (247*) ↔ Acetylation histone H2 (247*) ↑ Acetylation histone H3 (247*) ↓ (248) ↑ Acetylation histone H4 (247*) ↓ (248, 249) ↑ Acetylation histone H8 (247*) ↓ Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) (142*, 170*, ↑ (270+) 171*, 190, 209, 215*, 216, 230, 239, 243*) ↓ Bcl- xL (142*, 170*, 217, 221, 235, 239, 243*, 266*, 268) ↓ SRC (241) ↑ (205) ↓ IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) (171*) ↓ IGF-2 (171*) ↓ IGF-1R (171*) ↓ P-IGF1Rβ (171*) ↑ IGFBP (250) ↓ (261**) ↑ Heme oxigenase-1 (214) ↑ (202, 261**) ↓ β-integrin (237) ↑ (205) ↓ Fibronectin (242*) ↑ PTEN (190, 207*, 246*) ↓ Conversion of LC3-1 (microtubule- ↑ (271+) associated protein-1 light chain 3) to LC3-11 (235) ↑ FOXO3a (192) ND – mlc 2 (myosin light chain 2) ↑ (233) ND – Homebox protein Nkx-2.5 ↑ (233) MAPK ↑ p38 MAPK (189, 209, 210, 211) ↑ (231) ↓ Survivin (BIRC5) (123, 209, 219, 220, 229, 241, 243*, 263) ↑ ERK (210, 212, 213) ; ↑ (205, 231); ↔(171*, 211) ↓ (233) ↑ JNK (210, 211, 212, 213, 233) ↓ (232, 261**) ↑ ATF 3 (Activating transcription factor 3) (125) ↓ ABCG2 (214*, 253*) ↓ ABCC1 (254*) ↓ Oct-4 (260) ↑ (255) ↓ GPX (glutamate peroxidase) (264) ↑ (261**) ↓ Cyclin B1 (219) Table II. continued Table II. Curcumin: Major actions against molecular targets along key CSC pathways. ormal tissues is significant. Table II lists important targets of curcumin along key CSC pathways. The assignment of these targets is somewhat arbitrary as many of these biomolecules are situated along the intersection of multiple pathways. It is clear, however, that curcumin often has different effects on CSCs and NSCs in these crucial pathways. For example, studies on CSCs have demonstrated that part of curcumin’s toxicity to CSCs involves suppression of molecular abnormalities in the Wnt pathway, such as its inhibition of β-catenin (122, 125-126). Curcumin has opposite effects on neural stem cells as it stimulates neurogenesis. Curcumin increases β-catenin, cyclin D1, dishevelled and frizzled but reduces expression of the components of the β-catenin destruction complex, including the tumor suppressors GSK-3β, APC (adenomatous polyposis cell protein) and axin. Curcumin has contrary, but doubly-beneficial, actions like inhibiting CSCs, while at the same time stimulating normal NSC function (204, 222). Acknowledgements The Authors wish to thank Diana C. Sordillo, M.S. for her review of the manuscript and her helpful suggestions. References 1 Gangemi R, Paleari L, Orengo AM, Cesario A, Chessa L, Ferrini S and Russo P: Cancer stem cells: A new paradigm for understanding tumor growth and progression and drug resistance. Curr Med Chem 16: 1688-1703, 2009. Sordillo and Helson: Curcumin and Cancer Stem Cells (Review) 605 Effect on Pathway Effect on NSCs (Reference) ↑ PKD1 (protein kinase D1) (115) ↓ Nanog (260) ↑(255) ↓ SOX-2 (SRY-box2) (260) ↑ miR-145 (260) ↓ EZH2 (Zesle homolog 2) (210, 230) ↓ beclin-1 (235) ↑ (271+) ↑ c-jun (211, 213, 241) ↓ AP-1 (activator protein-1) (256) ↓ (76) ↓CCL2 (MCP-1) (257) ↓ (76) ↓ pp2A (protein phosphatase 2A) (212) ↓ pp5 (protein phosphatase 5) (212) ↑ jun-B (213) ↑ ROS (reactive oxygen species) (235) ↓ (232, 261**) ↑ PPAR γ (peroxisome proliferator- ↓ (202) activated receptor γ) (238) ↓ Transcription factor sp-1 (188) ↓ Calmodulin (188) ↓ EphB2 (Ephrin type-B receptor 2) (188) ↓ AIP-1/Alix protein (230) ↓ PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) (230) ↓ Ki67 (230) ↑ GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) (206*) ↑ C/EBPα (Ccaat-enhancer binding protein α) ↓ (202) (250) ND – RUNX 2 (Runt-related transcription ↑(202, 265) factor 2) ND – CSPG (chondroitin sulfate ↑ (205) proteoglycan) JAK/ ↓ DNA replication licensing STAT3 factor MCM2 (218, 219) ↓ STAT3-p (39, 171*, 218, 219, 221, 243*) ↓PDGFB (platelet-derived growth ↓ (261**) factor B) (262) Table II. continued Effect on Pathway Effect on NSCs (Reference) ↓ SOD-2 (superoxide dismutase 2, ↑ (261**) mitochodrial) (263) ↓ RB phosphorylation (243*) ↓ ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule; CD54) (219) ↓ CKD4 protein (39) ↔ STAT 1 (243*) ↔ STAT 6 (243*) ↓ Nitric oxide synthase (252) ↑ (233) ↑ SOCS 1 protein (247*) ↑ SOCS 3 protein (247*) ND – CXCL10 (IP-10) ↓ (258) NF-ĸB ↓ NF-ĸB (170*, 201*, 239, 246*, 268) ↓ (76, 205) ↓ Iĸ-Bα (239) ↓ (205) ↓ TNFα (35, 196, 263) ↓ (76) ↓ IL-1α (256) ↓ (76) ↓IL-1β (80) ↓ (205) ↓ IL-6 (239, 242*) ↓ s IL-6R (242*) ↓ SOX-9 (242*) ↓ ADAM 17 (ADAM metallopeptidase domain 17; TNF-α converting enzyme) (242*) ↓ Hsp90 (heat shock protein 90) ↓ COX2 (234, 236, 246*) ↑ (205) ↑ Cytochrome-C release (235, 236) ↓ c-FLIP (CFLAR) (235) ↓ X-linked IAP (BIRC4) (235), ↔ (215*) ↓ (205) ↓ cIAP-2 (BIRC3) (235) *Study done on lines with high proportion of CSCs. **Study done on induced pluripotent stem cell line. +Study done on human umbilical vein endothelial cells, not progenitor cells. 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