Chemopreventive Effect of Next Generation Ultrasol Curcumin in the Breast Cancer

Objectives: Breast cancer stands as the predominant cancer type in women globally, making up 12.5% of all new cancer diagnoses each year. Previous studies have shown that curcumin, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, may offer therapeutic advantages in cancer treatment. However, the use of curcumin in treating cancer is hindered by its poor bioavailability and suboptimal pharmacokinetic properties, including poor absorption, rapid metabolism, and quick removal from the body. Various strategies, including the development of different curcumin analogues for treating various types of cancer, have been proposed to overcome these challenges. One innovative version, known as Next Generation Ultrasol Curcumin (NGUC), has been engineered to maintain stability in the alkaline pH conditions found in the small intestine, potentially improving curcumin's oral bioavailability. The objective of this research was to assess the effects of standard curcumin and NGUC formulation on breast cancer models, utilizing both in vitro and in vivo methods. Methods: This involved investigating the impact of different concentrations on the growth and multiplication of breast cancer cells, specifically using the MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, and evaluating their influence on cancer progression in a rat model of breast cancer. Results: In vitro, curcumin markedly reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis in both cell lines (P < 0.05). The IC50 values for the MCF-7 cell line were 53.13 for curcumin and 44.13 for NGUC, with paclitaxel at 7.55, while for the MDA-MB-231 cell line, they were 10.02 for curcumin, 28.36 for NGUC, and 19.97 for paclitaxel. Both NGUC and standard curcumin enhanced survival rates and reduced mammary tumor occurrence in rats, with NGUC demonstrating superior effectiveness (P < 0.05). Moreover, NGUC and standard curcumin both increased the levels of Nrf2, HO-1, Bax, and Caspase3 while decreasing the levels of NF-κB, STAT3, Bcl2, Her2, and COX2, with NGUC showing a more significant impact. Conclusions: The results indicate that both standard curcumin and NGUC, with NGUC showing greater efficacy, are capable of effectively hindering the progression of breast cancer in vitro and in vivo, presumably through the inhibition of the NF-κB, STAT3, and Nrf2 pathways. Funding Sources: This study was supported by the Turkish Academy of Science.