title: Curcumin inhibits the proliferation and invasiveness of MHCC97-H cells via p38 signaling pathway.
abstract: Curcumin has been reported to be effective as a cancer therapy. However, the anti-metastatic effect and molecular mechanism(s) of curcumin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of curcumin on HCC and its putative mechanism(s). Curcumin inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells and inhibited the migration and invasion of these cells at sub-cytotoxic concentrations. Curcumin also decreased the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, and reduced p38 phosphorylation. Combination treatment of HCC cells with curcumin and SB203580 (a p38 signaling pathway inhibitor), generated a synergistic effect on the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, suggesting that the anti-metastatic effect of curcumin on HCC may involve a p38 signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, 323 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710054, China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiaojiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D003474:Curcumin; C093642:SB 203580
keywords: MMP; curcumin; hepatocellular carcinoma; migration and invasion