A curcumin-loaded nanogel with PDT is effective for the treatment of cancer from Type I and II mechanisms through different signaling pathways, including PI3K, Akt, mTOR, ERK5, AP-1, TGF-β, Wnt, β-catenin, Shh, PAK1, Rac1, STAT3, PPARγ, EBPα, NLRP3 inflammasome, p38MAPK, Nrf2, Notch-1, AMPK, TLR-4, and MyD-88. Here, PAK1 is linked to cancer.