Curcumin and its novel formulations for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: New trends and future perspectives in cancer therapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as a common malignancy of the liver, is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the world and mostly occurs in patients with a background of chronic liver disease. Patents with this carcinoma represent various signs and symptoms, such as splenomegaly, peripheral edema, and jaundice. More than 70 % of HCC cases are in the advanced stage because of lacking the diagnostic systems and indications in the early stages, therefore giving rise to a high lethality rate in involved patients. Against this malignancy, several therapeutic methods have been recommended, like surgical resection, immunotherapy, liver transplantation, and chemotherapeutic drugs (e.g., doxorubicin, mitomycin C, and cisplatin); however, these curative modalities have not created a serious hope for HCC patents. Nowadays, herbal medicine with natural compounds has been offered for different illnesses, such as cancer. Among these, some herbal components and their nano-based formulations, especially curcumin (a polyphenol extract of Curcuma longa), have become a point of interest in treating HCC. Hence, this review aimed to evaluate the anticancer effects of curcumin and its biological potential for treating HCC based on the current documents.