title: Aromatase inhibitor letrozole in synergy with curcumin in the inhibition of xenografted endometrial carcinoma growth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endometrial carcinoma is a malignant tumor in the uterus. Its current treatment is not satisfactory. The present study aimed to promote the inhibitory effect on the implanted endometrial tumor growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nude mice were implanted with endometrial carcinoma. Some tumor-laden mice were treated with aromatase inhibitor letrozole and/or curcumin. The tumor growth was monitored. Tumor cell apoptosis was detected in both control and treated groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty mice were successfully implanted with the endometrial tumor. Treatment with letrozole markedly inhibited the tumor growth; the inhibitor effect was further strengthened by combination with letrozole and curcumin. The results also showed that letrozole enhanced the expression of Bax and cytochrome c release and suppressed the expression of estrogen receptor in tumor cells. Treatment with curcumin inhibited the expression of Bcl-2 in tumor cells at the mRNA and protein levels. Tumor cell apoptosis was observed in mice treated with either letrozole or curcumin; however, combination of letrozole and curcumin further enhanced the inhibitory rate in tumor growth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with either letrozole or curcumin could inhibit the xenografted endometrial tumor growth via inducing apoptosis in tumor cells. Combination of letrozole and curcumin further strengthened the inhibitory effect on tumor growth.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. liangyuanjiao@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yuan-Jiao
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Yuan-Zhe
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Qiao-Lian
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian-Dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ya-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077289:Letrozole; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009570:Nitriles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D000077289:Letrozole; D003474:Curcumin