Preclinical and Clinical Evidence on the Efficacy and Cytotoxicity of Curcumin and Curcumin Derivatives in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: Curcumin (CUR), an active secondary metabolite of Curcuma longa, is known for its therapeutic effects in diverse neoplastic and nonneoplastic conditions. Here, we systematically reviewed relevant literature to explore the efficacy and cytotoxicity of CUR and its derivatives in treating chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in preclinical and clinical settings. METHODS: We followed the PRISMA guideline to conduct a systematic literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase on March 8, 2025, using relevant keywords, including chronic myeloid leukemia, CUR, and CUR derivatives. A manual search on Google Scholar was also performed to ensure comprehensive literature coverage. Duplicates were removed, and papers were evaluated for eligibility through a two-phase screening process. Data were then extracted and qualitatively analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 728 publications were identified. After removing duplicates and irrelevant literature, the abstracts of 318 papers were assessed for eligibility. Finally, 64 studies (55 retrieved via database search and nine through manual search) were analyzed. Preclinical evidence demonstrated the antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of CUR and its derivatives, alone or in combination with traditional therapies, against CML cells and models. Also, a single clinical study supported the adjunctive therapeutic effect of CUR in combination with imatinib. CONCLUSION: Preclinical evidence supports the potential role of CUR and its derivatives, adjuvant or stand-alone therapeutic agents, for CML management. More comprehensive clinical trials are warranted to validate these findings, optimize CUR formulations and dosing strategies, and maximize their clinical benefits.