Volume 145, Issue 1 pp. 10-19
Mini Review

Curcumin analogs: Their roles in pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis

Ganji Purnachandra Nagaraju

Ganji Purnachandra Nagaraju

Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

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Leah Benton

Leah Benton

Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

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Shipra Reddy Bethi

Shipra Reddy Bethi

Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

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Mamoru Shoji

Mamoru Shoji

Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

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Bassel F. El-Rayes

Corresponding Author

Bassel F. El-Rayes

Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

Correspondence to: Bassel F. El-Rayes, MD, 1365 Clifton RD NE, Office 2080, Atlanta, GA 30322, E-mail: [email protected]; Tel.: 404-778-5419; Fax: 404-778-5520Search for more papers by this author
First published: 18 September 2018
Citations: 39
Conflicts of interest: Dr. Mamoru Shoji is one of the patent holders (US Patent Number 6,664,272) for curcumin analogs. The rest of the authors disclose no conflicts of interest.

Abstract

Curcumin is a polyphenolic constituent of turmeric that is known to have various molecular effects in preclinical models, leading to prevention and anticancer properties. In clinical trials, curcumin has failed to demonstrate activity against pancreatic cancer possibly due to its low bioavailability and potency. Using the curcumin molecular model, our group and others have synthesized several analogs with better bioavailability and higher potency in pancreatic cancer in vitro and xenograft models. This mini review summarizes some of the known molecular effects of curcumin analogs and their potential role as novel therapeutics for pancreatic cancer.

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