Role of Curcumin: A Suppressor of NF-κB Activity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

  • Saipriya Lammata
  • Mundla Srilatha
  • Ganji Purnachandra Nagaraju
Chapter
First Online:

Abstract

Leading as the third cause of cancer-related deaths in the world, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive cancer that offers little to no treatment for patients in the advanced stages due to the frequency of recurrence. Moreover, the upregulation of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathway leads to uncontrolled cell growth, metastasis, and resistance in HCC. Curcumin, a polyphenol derived from turmeric, has been found to inhibit NF-κB activity in HCC and to present other antitumor properties such as anti-proliferation, anti-inflammation, and anti-angiogenic properties. Furthermore, curcumin also acts as a collaborative agent with available chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Working against the drawbacks of poor bioavailability and rapid metabolism, researchers are discovering new ways of encapsulating curcumin in order to exhibit its full efficacy against HCC metastasis.

Keywords

Curcumin NF-κB pathway Hepatocellular carcinoma Angiogenesis Chemotherapy 

Abbreviations

Akt

Protein kinase B

bFGF

Basic fibroblast growth factors

COX-2

Cyclooxygenase-2

FLHCC

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma

HBx

Protein X of the hepatitis B virus

HCC

Hepatocellular Carcinoma

HHC

Hexahydrocurcumin

IκBs

Inhibitors of NF-κB

IKK

IκB kinase

NF-κB

Nuclear Factor-kappaB

PCD

Programmed cell death

PEI

Percutaneous ethanol injection

PPAR-γ

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ

THC

Tetrahydrocurcumin

VEGF

Vascular endothelial growth factor

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Copyright information

© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  • Saipriya Lammata
    • 1
  • Mundla Srilatha
    • 2
  • Ganji Purnachandra Nagaraju
    • 3
  1. 1.Rice UniversityHoustonUSA
  2. 2.Department of BiotechnologySri Venkateswara UniversityTirupatiIndia
  3. 3.Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer InstituteEmory UniversityAtlantaUSA

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