Turmeric extract is expected to be developed into a new generation of new anticancer drugs without chemoresistance

Drug resistance is a common obstacle in the treatment of pancreatic cancer However, new research shows that curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, can help overcome resistance to chemotherapy Curcumin is an active compound found in plants, such as curcumin More and more studies have pointed out its therapeutic potential in various diseases such as cancer and diabetes Preclinical studies have shown that the compound has a variety of antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects However, when taken orally, the compound is quickly metabolized and eliminated from the body Therefore, more clinical studies and trials are needed to test its potential therapeutic benefits - whether alone or in combination with other types of conventional treatment The new study helps fill the gap because it tests the benefits of curcumin in combination with traditional chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer Specifically, the new study investigates the potential of curcumin to overcome chemical resistance, which is a common challenge in the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) The study was led by Dr Ajay goel, director of gastrointestinal research and translational genomics and oncology at baylescott and white Institute in Dallas, Texas The results were published in the Journal carginogenesis Inhibition of drug-resistant cancer stem cells is considered to be the main reason for the development of chemotherapy resistance in the treatment of PDAC However, as the authors of the new study explain, other studies have shown that curcumin may block this acquired chemical resistance, although the exact molecular mechanism of this potential benefit is unknown Recent evidence suggests that subunits of the so-called combed proteome are key factors in maintaining stem cells Comb protein plays a key role in stem cell differentiation, and the subunit of comb inhibitor complex 2 has been shown to regulate drug resistance This subunit is called the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), whose abnormal expression has shown the role of blocking tumor suppressor When using curcumin to treat pancreatic cells, Dr goel and colleagues inhibited the EZH2 pathway, making the cells more susceptible to chemotherapy In addition, the researchers found that curcumin blocked the formation of globules in cell cultures, suggesting that it also inhibited tumor growth and recurrence "By treating certain cells with a small dose of curcumin, we can reverse the pathway leading to chemical resistance," Dr goel said "This is an important breakthrough, which can bring better prognosis and longer life for chemotherapy-resistant pancreatic cancer patients." Previous studies by Dr Ajay Goel have shown that curcumin has preventive effects, but the author's knowledge is that this is the first study to show the beneficial effects of a combination of plant extracts and chemotherapy and the advantages of overcoming drug resistance Dr goel and his team hope that this natural compound has unique therapeutic potential "Food based botanical drugs are likely to restore healthier gene expression in patients, but without the toxicity of certain drugs," he concluded.