[Therapeutic potential of curcumin in colorectal cancer ‒ A systematic review]

Colorectal cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Its treatment is based on chemotherapy, although its efficacy can be limited by tumor resistance and side effects. In this context, curcumin has been proposed as an adjuvant agent due to its anti-inflammatory, pro-apoptotic and cell cycle modulating properties. This systematic review, based on the PRISMA methodology, analyzed studies on the effects of curcumin in colorectal cancer. Curcumin was found to promote apoptosis through the generation of reactive oxygen species and the activation of P53. It also induces the overexpression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK), which regulates the cell cycle and limits tumor proliferation. It has also been observed to reduce resistance to chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-fluorouracil and to suppress the NF-kB pathway, which is key to inflammation and tumor progression. The results suggest that the use of curcumin nanoformulations improves its bioavailability, enhances its therapeutic effects and favors sensitization to chemotherapy, thereby reducing its adverse effects. It is concluded that curcumin represents a promising option in the treatment of colorectal cancer; however, clinical trials are needed to validate its safety and efficacy in clinical practice.