Effectiveness of Curcumin as a Low-cost Adjuvant Alternative to Vaccines in the Treatment of Human Papillomavirus-induced Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review of In vitro and In vivo Studies

Alavian, Firoozeh; Ghiasvand, Saeedeh

doi:10.30491/jabr.2024.455865.1728

Effectiveness of Curcumin as a Low-cost Adjuvant Alternative to Vaccines in the Treatment of Human Papillomavirus-induced Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review of In vitro and In vivo Studies

Document Type : Systematic Review

Authors

Firoozeh Alavian

Saeedeh Ghiasvand

Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran

10.30491/jabr.2024.455865.1728

Abstract

Introduction: Cervical cancer remains a significant public health concern, with high mortality rates among women despite available preventive, screening, and therapeutic approaches. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, particularly types 16 and 18, are primary factors in cervical cancer development. Curcumin, a bioactive polyphenolic compound from turmeric, has been extensively studied for its therapeutic effects against HPV-induced cervical cancer. This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy and mechanisms of curcumin as an affordable dietary supplement alternative to vaccines in treating HPV-associated cervical cancer.
Materials and Methods: This systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. We searched PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus using keywords such as "HPV," "curcumin," and "cervical cancer" without time and language restrictions. Two researchers independently performed data extraction and quality assessment based on predefined criteria.
Results: Out of 105 initially identified articles, 22 met the inclusion criteria. The findings suggest that curcumin selectively inhibits the expression of viral oncogenes E6 and E7, mediators and growth-inducing factors, migration, and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in cervical cancer cells.
Conclusions: Curcumin shows promise in influencing apoptosis, migration, and invasion of cervical cancer cells through various regulatory mechanisms. These preclinical findings suggest a potential basis for future research on curcumin as a therapeutic agent for HPV-associated cervical cancer.

Keywords

HPV

Curcumin

Cervical Cancer