DMC-GF

DMC-GF is a novel, brain-targeted small molecule analog of curcumin specifically engineered for the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM). It is designed to overcome the pharmacokinetic limitations of natural curcumin, such as poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and rapid metabolic degradation, by incorporating structural modifications that block metabolic sites and enhance recognition by the GLUT1 transporter for active transport into the brain. Mechanistically, DMC-GF inhibits GBM progression by modulating the THBS1/TGF-β1/PI3K-AKT signaling axis. It suppresses the expression of Thrombospondin-1 (THBS1), which leads to the downregulation of the non-canonical, Smad-independent TGF-β1 pathway and subsequent inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling cascade. This results in reduced tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while inducing apoptosis and reversing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Other names

brain-targeting curcumin analogglucose-functionalized dimethoxycurcumin