title: Resveratrol potentiates the in vitro and in vivo anti-tumoral effects of curcumin in head and neck carcinomas.
abstract: The survival rate of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) patients has not considerably changed over the last two decades. Polyphenols inhibit the growth of cancer cells. We determined whether the combination of Resveratrol (RES) and Curcumin (CUR) enhanced their in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities on HNSCC cell lines compared to the single compounds. We provide evidence that RES potentiated the apoptotic effect and reduced the IC50 of CUR on HNSCC cell lines. The model of compounds interaction indicated the onset of an additive effect of the two compounds compared to the single treatment after decrease of their concentrations. RES+CUR compared to CUR increased the PARP-1 cleavage, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, the inhibition of ERK1 and ERK2 phosphorylation, and the expression of LC3 II simultaneously with the formation of autophagic vacuoles. RES and CUR induced cytoplasmic NF-κB accumulation. RES+CUR administrations were safe in BALB/c mice and reduced the growth of transplanted salivary gland cancer cells (SALTO) more efficiently than CUR. Overall, combinations of CUR and RES was more effective in inhibiting in vivo and in vitro cancer growth than the treatment with CUR. Additional studies will be needed to define the therapeutic potential of these compounds in combination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Masuelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Stefano
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fantini
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mattera
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benvenuto
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marzocchella
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sacchetti
authors.affiliation: STA, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Focaccetti
authors.affiliation: STA, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bernardini
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tresoldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Izzi
authors.affiliation: STA, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mattei
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie, Umane e della Salute, Università di Roma, Foro Italico.
authors.forename: Giovanni Vanni
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Frajese
authors.affiliation: Centro Studi e Ricerche Sanità e Veterinaria Esercito, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Florigio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lista
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Modesti
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D000077185:Resveratrol; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013267:Stilbenes; D003474:Curcumin; D000077185:Resveratrol