Curcumin's prevention of inflammation-driven early gastric cancer and its molecular mechanism

Worldwide, gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths and the fifth most common malignant tumor. Gastric cancer is believed to be caused by a variety of factors, such as genetics, epigenetics, and environmental influences. Among the pathogenic factors, inflammation has been considered as one of the main risk factors for gastric cancer. There are currently limited ways to prevent gastric cancer. Although the combined application of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce the risk, it has great side effects and can easily cause gastric perforation or gastric bleeding. Therefore, an alternative plan is urgently needed. Curcumin is the yellow pigment in the rhizome of the plant turmeric. Current studies have found that curcumin has a protective effect on gastric mucosal damage caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gastric mucosal damage in rats, and gastric mucosal damage caused by stress bleeding and Helicobacter pylori infection. Curcumin shows significant anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities by regulating DNA methylation, histone modification, nuclear factor erythrocyte 2 related factor 2 and other related signal pathways. In this article, the latest evidence of curcumin for epigenetic changes in gastric cancer and its potential contribution to gastric cancer were discussed.