Curcumin Combats against Gastrointestinal Cancer: A Review of Current Knowledge Regarding Epigenetics Mechanisms with a Focus on DNA Methylation

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are one of the most common human malignancies and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. One of the most promi-nent hallmarks of cancer and a basic trait of almost all GI malignancies is genomic/epige-nomics alterations. DNA methylation is highlighted as a fundamental mechanism underlying the inactivation of several tumor-suppressor gene signaling pathways. Thus, sites of DNA methylation can be triggered for cancer therapy. Available therapeutic proce-dures for GI cancer show unsatisfactory efficacy, and some treatments are associated with severe side effects, including ulceration or bleeding. Therefore, it is essential to find alternative treatments. There is growing evidence indicating that some chemopreventive phytochemicals can combat cancer. One of the most systematically investigated nutraceu-ticals for its advantages in managing different diseases is curcumin (CUR). CUR is well known for its potent anticancer characteristics by targeting epigenetic mechanisms, with DNA methylation at the forefront. Prior investigations have indicated that CUR treatment can benefit GI cancers by controlling several signaling pathways related to oxida-tive stress and epigenomics pathways. The present literature displays recent evidence regarding DNA methylation alterations by CUR and its potential role in GI cancer prevention and treatment.