title: Liposome-encapsulated curcumin suppresses neuroblastoma growth through nuclear factor-kappa B inhibition.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) has been implicated in tumor cell proliferation and survival and in tumor angiogenesis. We sought to evaluate the effects of curcumin, an inhibitor of NF-κB, on a xenograft model of disseminated neuroblastoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  For in vitro studies, neuroblastoma cell lines NB1691, CHLA-20, and SK-N-AS were treated with various doses of liposomal curcumin. Disseminated neuroblastoma was established in vivo by tail vein injection of NB1691-luc cells into SCID mice, which were then treated with 50 mg/kg/day of liposomal curcumin 5 days/week intraperitoneally.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Curcumin suppressed NF-κB activation and proliferation of all neuroblastoma cell lines in vitro. In vivo, curcumin treatment resulted in a significant decrease in disseminated tumor burden. Curcumin-treated tumors had decreased NF-κB activity and an associated significant decrease in tumor cell proliferation and an increase in tumor cell apoptosis, as well as a decrease in tumor vascular endothelial growth factor levels and microvessel density.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liposomal curcumin suppressed neuroblastoma growth, with treated tumors showing a decrease in NF-κB activity. Our results suggest that liposomal curcumin may be a viable option for the treatment of neuroblastoma that works via inhibiting the NF-κB pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
authors.forename: Wayne S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.forename: Jason W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Denbo
authors.forename: Karim R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Saab
authors.forename: Adrianne L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Catherine Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Junfang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Christopher L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: Lawrence M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pfeffer
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Davidoff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D008081:Liposomes; D016328:NF-kappa B; D003474:Curcumin