title: Curcumin Enhances Docetaxel-Induced Apoptosis of 8505C Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma Cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies in humans, and its progression is poorly controlled by existing therapeutic methods. Curcumin has been shown to suppress inflammation and angiogenesis. In this study, we evaluated whether curcumin could augment docetaxel-induced apoptosis of ATC cells. We also analyzed changes in nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression levels to delineate possible mechanisms of their combined action.
  
  
  METHODS
  ATC cells were cultured and treated with curcumin and docetaxel alone or in combination. The effects on cell viability were determined by MTS assay. Apoptosis was assessed by annexin V staining and confirmed by flow cytometric analysis. Caspase, COX-2, NF-κB levels were assayed by Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Curcumin combined with docetaxel led to lower cell viability than treatment with docetaxel or curcumin alone. Annexin V staining followed by flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that curcumin treatment enhanced the docetaxel-induced apoptosis of ATC cells. Additionally, curcumin inhibited docetaxel-induced p65 activation and COX-2 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that curcumin may enhance docetaxel's antitumor activity in ATC cells by interfering with NF-κB and COX-2. Our results suggest that curcumin may emerge as an attractive therapeutic candidate to enhance the antitumor activity of taxanes in ATC treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Chan Sung
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Il Seong
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Nam-Goong
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Yon Seon
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Cheol
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Myung Weol
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Center, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Il
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Sook
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Apoptosis; Curcumin; Cyclooxygenase 2; Docetaxel; NF-kappa B; Thyroid cancer, anaplastic
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