title: Visible light is a better co-inducer of apoptosis for curcumin-treated human melanoma cells than UVA.
abstract: Curcumin attracts worldwide scientific interest due to its anti-proliferative and apoptosis inducing effects on different tumor cells at concentrations ranging from 10 to 150 µM (3.7-55 µg/ml). Unfortunately, because of a low oral bioavailability, only low and pharmacologically ineffective serum levels are achievable. In this study, an alternative treatment concept consisting of low concentration curcumin (0.2-5 µg/ml) and irradiation with UVA or visible light (VL) has been tested. The experimental results show clearly that this treatment decreases the proliferation and the viability of human melanoma cells while the cell membrane integrity remains intact. We identified the onset of apoptosis characterized by typical markers such as active caspases 8, 9 and 3 as well as DNA fragmentation accompanied by the loss of cell adhesion. The mitochondrial apoptosis signaling pathway is predominant due to an early activation of caspase-9. The present data indicate a higher efficacy of a combination of curcumin and VL than curcumin and UVA. Reduced effects as a result of light absorption by heavily pigmented skin are unlikely if VL is used. These results indicate that a combination of curcumin and light irradiation may be a useful additional therapy in the treatment of malignant disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, University Hospital, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buss
authors.forename: Jadranka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dobra
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goerg
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kippenberger
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: August
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernd
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008543:Melanins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008543:Melanins; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D020169:Caspases; D003474:Curcumin