Colorectal cancer: curcumin could make chemotherapy more effective

Colorectal cancer: does curcumin make chemotherapy more effective?

Curcumin, a biologically active component extracted from turmeric, appears to be able to alter the microenvironment surrounding colorectal cancer cells, enhancing the effects of chemotherapy and reducing factors that promote tumor development.

The discovery, published in the journal PLoS ONE, was led by researchers at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany.

Turmeric, a potential anticancer agent

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the world and is characterized by the 'high rate of metastasis and recurrence. In addition, more than 15% of patients develop resistance to conventional chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil. Scientific evidence suggests that the development and progression of colorectal cancer is due to genetic alterations and complex interactions of cancer cells with their microenvironment and neighboring cells. Nutraceuticals are ideal candidates to modulate the tumor microenvironment and support chemotherapy. 

Among these is curcumin, a derivative of the plant curcuma longa, a polyphenolic substance that possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory actions and may be able to modulate some molecular targets important for cancer development. The use of this ingredient precisely because of its beneficial activities has increased in recent years, partly due to the presence of supplements such as Omegor Antiage on the market.

Curcumin influences tumor invasion 

In the study, Dr. Buhrmann, who directed the experiments, and her collaborators cultured human colon cancer cells with stromal fibroblast cells (cells from the tissue that supports organs) for three days, after which they observed tumor clusters around the stromal cells. 

This cellular interaction was also found to be associated with increases in molecules that promote cell proliferation, metastasis formation, and cell-to-cell adhesion. The team then studied a microenvironment in which colon cancer cells and stromal cells were treated with different concentrations of curcumin. The chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil was also added to some of these cell cultures. 

Analyses showed that pretreatment with curcumin had reduced the presence of tumor-promoting factors, while cultures with the chemotherapeutic drug alone had increased their concentration, probably as a defense reaction of the microenvironment and tumor cells. Treatment with both molecules had also promoted the disintegration of the cancerous "spheres," but with a greater effect in the curcumin-treated cultures.

New therapeutic strategies on the horizon

In conclusion; administration of curcumin, with or without chemotherapy, inhibits the expression of molecules indicative of the presence of cancer cells. Result that, according to the authors, demonstrates for the first time the 'effect of this molecule on cancer cells, fibroblasts and the microenvironment, that is, the creation an environment that makes the 'action of chemotherapeutics more effective. 

Curcumin is thus a natural modulator of cancer progression and is a candidate therapeutic strategy to prevent chemotherapy resistance and prevent metastasis formation. To stay up to date with the latest news from Omega 3 scientific research, subscribe to our newsletter.

Source: Constanze Buhrmann, Patricia Kraehe, Cora Lueders Parviz Shayan, Ajay Goel , Mehdi Shakibaei. "Curcumin Suppresses Crosstalk between Colon Cancer Stem Cells and Stromal Fibroblasts in the Tumor Microenvironment: Potential Role of EMT" PLOsOne DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107514