Curcumin exerts multiple suppressive effects on human breast carcinoma cells.
In our study, we present experimental evidence suggesting that curcumin exerts multiple different suppressive effects on human breast carcinoma cells in vitro. Our experiments demonstrate that curcumin's antiproliferative effects are estrogen dependent in ER (estrogen receptor)-positive MCF-7 cells, being more pronounced in estrogen-containing media and in the presence of exogenous 17-beta estradiol. Curcumin inhibits the expression of ER downstream genes including pS2 and TGF-beta (transforming growth factor) in ER-positive MCF-7 cells, and this inhibition is also dependent on the presence of estrogen. Curcumin also decreases ERE (estrogen responsive element)-CAT activities induced by 17-beta estradiol. In addition, we demonstrate that curcumin exerts strong anti-invasive effects in vitro that are not estrogen dependent in the ER-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. These anti-invasive effects appear to be mediated through the downregulation of MMP-2 (matrix metalloproteinase) and the upregulation of TIMP-1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase), 2 common effector molecules that have been implicated in regulating tumor cell invasion. Our study also demonstrates that curcumin inhibits the transcript levels of 2 major angiogenesis factors VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and b-FGF (basic fibroblast growth factor) mainly in ER-negative MDA-MB-231 cells.
Shao
Zhi-Ming
ZM
Department of Breast Surgery, Cancer Hospital/Cancer Institute, Fudan University Medical Center, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Shen
Zhen-Zhou
ZZ
Liu
Can-Hui
CH
Sartippour
Maryam R
MR
Go
Vay Liang
VL
Heber
David
D
Nguyen
Mai
M
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020218:Response Elements; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D011506:Proteins; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; C051838:TFF1 protein, human; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D003474:Curcumin