Curcumin in gastric cancer treatment: A commentary on mechanistic insights and future directions

The study by Yang <i>et al</i> presents a comprehensive investigation into the therapeutic potential of curcumin for gastric cancer (GC). Using network pharmacology, the researchers identified 48 curcumin-related genes, 31 of which overlap with GC targets. Key genes, including <i>ESR1</i>, <i>EGFR</i>, <i>CYP3A4</i>, <i>MAPK14</i>, <i>CYP1A2</i>, and <i>CYP2B6</i>, are linked to poor survival in GC patients. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding affinity of curcumin to these genes. <i>In vitro</i> experiments demonstrated that curcumin effectively inhibits the growth and proliferation of <i>BGC-823</i>, suggesting its therapeutic potential in GC through multiple targets and pathways.