Targeting STAT3 Signaling Pathway by Curcumin and Its analogues for Breast Cancer: An Overview and Update on New Developments

Breast cancer (BC) has emerged as the fifth most prevalent cause of cancer-related morbidity, prompting considerable interest from researchers due to its increased malignancy and resistance to drugs. Traditional chemotherapy methods have demonstrated limited effectiveness in treating all BC subtypes, underscoring the pressing demand for innovative therapeutic strategies or medications. Curcumin, a bioactive substance extracted from Curcuma longa, has been widely examined for its potential as an oncology drug. Research indicates that turmeric extract and its derivatives effectively inhibit STAT3, resulting in downstream effects like reducing cancer cell growth, triggering cell death, and preventing metastasis. The research on curcumin’s impact on the STAT3 pathway in BC demonstrated that curcumin effectively inhibits STAT3, leading to downstream effects such as the downregulation of Bcl-xL, Bcl-2, and Survivin, and the induction of apoptosis in H-Ras MCF10A cells. Additionally, it showed curcumin’s ability to hinder proliferation and anchorage-independent cell growth. The research also examined the effects of curcumin derivatives, like FLLL11, FLLL12, hydrazinocurcumin (HC), and GO-Y030, on STAT3 inhibition and their potential as therapeutic agents for BC. Observed results indicated the promise of curcumin and its derivatives in targeting the STAT3 signaling pathway for BC therapy.