Aggressive Cutaneous Squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is a type of skin cancer.
Non-melanoma skin cancers are very common and 20-25% of all non-melanoma skin cancers are constituted by CSCC which makes it the second most frequently occurring skin cancer.
People with genetic disorders like xeroderma pigmentosum, damaged skin sites like scars, burn sites, immuno-compromised patients with suppressed immune system and undergoing organ transplantation are at high risk.
Ultraviolet-B radiation from sunlight and tanning salons are a major cause of CSCC contraction.
Some drugs like voriconazole and immunosuppressive therapies also cause CSCC.
Curcumin, being a potent anti-cancer agent obtained from the great Indian spice Turmeric, can surprisingly be very helpful in controlling the chances of CSCC development.
Curcumin C3 complex is a Curcumin supplement composed of 76.07% Curcumin, 20.28% Demethoxycurcumin and 3.63% Bisdemethoxycurcumin.
About the Study
Curcumin C3 complex was tested for its efficacy in controlling the incidence of UV-B induced cancer and the mechanism followed for the same.
Skin cells from JB6 mice were used for in vitro study and SKH-1 mice as model organisms for in vivo study were used.
For in vivo study, Curcumin C3 complex supplements were given orally to SKH-1 mice for 14 days.
They were then exposed to UV-B radiation and later killed after 24 hours.
The researchers collected their skin tissues and serum for analysis.
Skin cells from JB6 mice were taken, exposed to UV-B radiation after treating them with Curcumin C3 complex for 2 hours and the resulting effects were studied.
It was found that C3 treatment lead to a decrease in the proliferation of epidermal cells by decreasing the levels of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and reduced the UV-B induced enlargement of epidermal tissues caused by increased multiplication of its cells.
This condition is termed as hyperplasia and is a precancerous condition.
It also produced anti-cancer activity by blocking NF-kB and mTOR pathways.
What can we conclude
Curcumin has been found to be a promising anti-cancer agent in many animal and human studies.
This study conducted on mice indicates that the cancerous activity produced by Ultraviolet B radiation can be reversed by oral administration of Curcumin C3 complex.
It decreases the levels of FGF-2 and inhibits NF-kB and mTOR pathways leading to reduction in epidermal cell proliferation, differentiation and hyperplasia.