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Updated: Jan 26, 2026
10:37
Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 27, 2013
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Curcumin: a potent agent to reverse epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition
Afsane Bahrami1, Muhammed Majeed2, Amirhossein Sahebkar3,4,5
1Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
Cellular Oncology (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
|April 14, 2019
Summary
Curcumin, a phytochemical, can inhibit tumor metastasis by reversing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This natural compound shows potential as an anti-cancer agent by suppressing EMT and chemoresistance.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Natural Products Chemistry
Background:
- Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) drives tumor progression, invasion, migration, and metastasis.
- EMT involves loss of epithelial markers and gain of mesenchymal features, facilitating cancer cell spread.
- Curcumin, a phytochemical, is recognized for its potential to inhibit EMT and metastasis in various human cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms by which curcumin impacts EMT in pathological conditions.
- To evaluate curcumin's potential as a novel anti-tumor and anti-metastatic agent.
- To understand curcumin's role in overcoming chemoresistance via EMT suppression.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating curcumin's effects on EMT.
- Analysis of molecular pathways targeted by curcumin in different cancer types.
- Synthesis of evidence on curcumin's chemo-preventive and chemo-sensitizing properties.
Main Results:
- Curcumin inhibits and reverses EMT through both TGF-β-dependent and -independent pathways.
- EMT suppression by curcumin is observed in diverse cancers including hepatoma, oral, colorectal, pancreatic, breast, and lung cancer.
- Curcumin mitigates chemoresistance and enhances the efficacy of conventional chemotherapeutics.
Conclusions:
- Curcumin demonstrates significant potential as a novel adjunctive agent for preventing tumor metastasis.
- Its ability to hamper the EMT process is a key mechanism underlying its anti-cancer effects.
- Curcumin may offer a natural approach to improve cancer treatment outcomes by targeting EMT and chemoresistance.
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