curcumin and Leiomyoma

Fibroids are the most common tumor of the female reproductive tract, but approved medical treatments are limited. Patients demand uterine-sparing treatments which preserve fertility and avoid surgery. We systematically reviewed PubMed and Cochrane databases from January 1985 to November 2015 for evidence-based medical therapies for fibroids in the context of disease prevention, treatment of early disease, treatment of symptomatic disease, and preoperative management. We identified 2182 studies, of which 52 studies met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Published data affirm the efficacy of multiple agents, which are promising avenues for the development of medical alternatives to surgery.

Topics: Androgens; Aromatase Inhibitors; Contraceptive Agents, Female; Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; Curcumin; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Estradiol; Estrenes; Estrogen Receptor Antagonists; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Fulvestrant; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Hormone Antagonists; Humans; Intrauterine Devices, Medicated; Leiomyoma; Levonorgestrel; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; Mifepristone; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Norpregnadienes; Oximes; Plant Extracts; Receptors, Progesterone; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; Tea; Uterine Myomectomy; Uterine Neoplasms; Vitamin D; Vitamins

To determine whether a curcumin-supplemented diet would prevent and/or treat uterine leiomyoma growth in our mouse xenograft model.. Animal study.. Laboratory study.. N/A.. Curcumin-supplemented diet.. Dietary intake, blood concentrations, tumor size, extracellular matrix protein concentrations, apoptosis markers.. We found that curcumin was well tolerated as a dietary supplement, free curcumin and its metabolites were detected in the serum, and exposure resulted in approximately 60% less leiomyoma xenograft growth as well as dissolution of the peripheral extracellular matrix architecture of the xenografts. The production of matrix proteins, including collagens, decreased, whereas the number of apoptotic cells in the xenografts increased. Additionally, when xenografts were placed in a uterine intramural location, we found a significantly increased apoptotic response to curcumin in the diet.. Mice on a diet supplemented with curcumin could achieve serum concentrations sufficient to regulate human leiomyoma xenograft growth, and curcumin could play both preventive and curative roles in the treatment of uterine leiomyoma as an oral nutritional supplement.

Topics: Animals; Curcumin; Extracellular Matrix; Female; Heterografts; Humans; Leiomyoma; Mice; Solubility; Uterine Neoplasms

The aim of this study was to elucidate the concise effects of a traditional herb pair, Curcumae rhizoma-Sparganii rhizoma (CRSR), on uterine leiomyoma (UL) by analyzing transcriptional profiling. The UL rat model was made by intramuscular injection of progesterone and gavage administration of diethylstilbestrol. From 11 weeks of the establishment of the model, rats of the UL+CRSR group were gavaged daily with CRSR (6.67 g/kg). The serum concentrations of progesterone (P) and estradiol (E2) were determined by radioimmunoassay, the uterine index was measured by caliper measurement, and the pathological status was observed by hematoxylin and eosin stain. Gene expression profiling was checked by NimbleGen Rat Gene Expression Microarrays. The results indicated that the uterine mass of UL+CRSR rats was significantly shrunk and serum P and E2 levels significantly reduced compared to UL animals and nearly to the level of normal rats. Results of microarrays displayed the extensive inhibition of CRSR upon the expression of proliferation and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM)-related genes, and significantly regulated a wide range of metabolism disorders. Furthermore, CRSR extensively regulated key pathways of the UL process, such as MAPK, PPAR, Notch, and TGF-β/Smad. Regulation of the crucial pathways for the UL process and ECM metabolism may be the underlying mechanisms of CRSR treatment. Further studies will provide clear clues for effectively treating UL with CRSR.

Topics: Animals; Curcuma; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Leiomyoma; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Plant Extracts; Radioimmunoassay; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rhizome; Transcription Factors; Uterine Neoplasms

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common gynaecological benign tumour and greatly affect reproductive health and wellbeing. They are the predominant indication for hysterectomy in premenopausal women. Curcumin, a well-known component of turmeric, has been reported to prevent various diseases such as cancer, diabetes and obesity. Previous study reported that curcumin represses the proliferation of several tumour cells. However, there has not been a precise characterisation of the curcumin-induced inhibition of uterine leiomyoma cells. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of curcumin on leiomyoma cells proliferation.. Eker rat-derived uterine leiomyoma cell lines (ELT-3 cells) were used. Cell proliferation was assessed by counting the number of cells and MTS assay. The activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) was evaluated by luciferase assay.. We found that curcumin significantly inhibited ELT-3 cell proliferation. PPARγ was expressed in ELT-3 cells and curcumin acted as a PPARγ ligand. This inhibitory effect of curcumin was attenuated by the treatment of cells with PPARγ antagonist.. These experimental findings in vitro show that the inhibitory effect of curcumin on ELT-3 cell proliferation occurs through the activation of PPARγ. Curcumin may be useful as an alternative therapy for uterine leiomyoma.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Curcumin; Female; Leiomyoma; PPAR gamma; Rats; Uterine Neoplasms; Uterus

To determine if curcumin has an antiproliferative effect on leiomyoma cells via apoptosis induction and whether curcumin impacts extracellular matrix (ECM) production by assessing the fibronectin expression in leiomyoma cells treated with curcumin.. Tissue culture study of immortalized human leiomyoma and patient-matched myometrial cells treated with curcumin.. University hospital.. Immortalized leiomyoma and myometrial cells from patients with symptomatic leiomyomata.. Tissue culture, followed by proliferation studies, RNA, and protein analysis.. Cell proliferation, alteration in apoptotic signaling pathways.. Curcumin demonstrated an antiproliferative effect on leiomyoma cell lines (IC50 = 20 muM). Importantly, no statistically significant inhibition of growth was observed when patient-matched myometrial cells were exposed to equivalent concentrations of curcumin. Curcumin stimulated caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression while inhibiting extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK 1), ERK 2, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), suggesting regulation of leiomyocyte apoptosis. Finally, curcumin inhibited expression of fibronectin in leiomyoma cells.. Our findings demonstrate that curcumin inhibited uterine leiomyoma cell proliferation via regulation of the apoptotic pathway, and inhibited production of the ECM component fibronectin. Curcumin provides a novel direction for leiomyoma therapies.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Caspase Inhibitors; Caspases; Cell Division; Curcumin; Dietary Supplements; Extracellular Matrix; Female; Fibronectins; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Leiomyoma; Myometrium; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Tumor Cells, Cultured