title: Differential sensitivity of human mammary epithelial and breast carcinoma cell lines to curcumin.
abstract: Curcumin has anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and antitumor effects. To understand the chemopreventive mechanism of curcumin against human malignancies, the cellular and molecular changes induced by this agent in human mammary epithelial (MCF-10A) and breast carcinoma (MCF- 7/TH) cell lines were investigated. The human multidrug- resistant breast cancer cell line was 3.5 fold more sensitive to curcumin than the mammary epithelial cell line. Even though both cell lines accumulated a similar amount of curcumin, a significantly higher percentage of apoptotic cells was induced in breast cancer cells compared to a very low percentage of apoptosis in mammary epithelial cells. Incubation of breast cancer cells with 20 and 40 microM curcumin for 24 h induced G2 block and sub-G0/G1 cell population, respectively. Curcumin treatment caused a reduction in the expression of Ki67, PCNA, and p53 mRNAs in breast cancer cells. The human mammary epithelial cell line showed a down-regulation of p21 mRNA and an up-regulation of Bax mRNA expression with curcumin treatment. The results suggest that apoptosis is involved in the curcumin-induced inhibition of tumor cell growth, and genes associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis may be playing a role in the chemopreventive action of curcumin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL, USA. cheppail.ramachandran@mch.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: You
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001940:Breast / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002999:Clone Cells; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003474:Curcumin