title: Synergistic effects of curcumin with emodin against the proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells through upregulation of miR-34a.
abstract: Curcumin, a biphenyl compound derived from rhizome, is a powerful anti-cancer agent. Emodin is an active component isolated from the root and rhizome of Rheum palmatum that has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Currently, there are no studies examining the effect of curcumin in combination with emodin on tumor cell growth. In this study, we report for the first time that combined curcumin and emodin administration synergistically inhibits proliferation (MTT assay), survival (flow cytometry), and invasion (transwell migration assay) of breast cancer cells. Synergism is determined by the Chou-Talalay method. Moreover, we demonstrate that miR-34a is upregulated by curcumin and emodin. This microRNA helps mediate the anti-tumor effects of curcumin and emodin by downregulating Bcl-2 and Bmi-1. Our results not only provide insight into the mechanism of synergy between curcumin and emodin in breast cancer cells, but also suggest a new and potentially useful approach for breast cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, 651 East Dong Feng Road, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiaoli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Wenping
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hongliu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Xinhua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Laisheng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hailin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Minqing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yanan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004642:Emodin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C489421:Bmi1 protein, mouse; C522425:MIRN34 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1; D003474:Curcumin; D004642:Emodin