Curcumin alters the migratory phenotype of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells through up-regulation of E-cadherin.
BACKGROUND
Curcumin is a natural polyphenol. It is a potent suppressor of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB). High NF-kappaB levels have suppressive effect on E-cadherin (molecule related to cell-cell adhesion) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells. We hypothesized that suppressing NF-kappaB by curcumin could up-regulate E-cadherin expression in NPC cells.


METHODS
NPC cell lines HK1 and HONE1 were used. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting were used to examine the expression changes of NF-kappaB and E-cadherin. A mouse xenograft model was used to validate the results.


RESULTS
With curcumin treatment, NF-kappaB was down-regulated and E-cadherin was up-regulated in NPC cells. The negative correlation of NF-kappaB and E-cadherin was confirmed in the mouse xenograft model.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that curcumin could be used in preventing NPC migration by suppressing NF-kappaB and activating E-cadherin expression.
Wong
Thian-Sze
TS
Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, China. thiansze@graduate.hku.hk
Chan
Wing-San
WS
Li
Chi-Han
CH
Liu
Raymond Wai-Man
RW
Tang
Whitney Wing-Yan
WW
Tsao
Sai-Wah
SW
Tsang
Raymond King-Yin
RK
Ho
Wai-Kuen
WK
Wei
William Ignace
WI
Chan
Jimmy Yu-Wai
JY
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015820:Cadherins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003474:Curcumin