title: Induction of BCL2-Interacting Killer, BIK, is Mediated for Anti-Cancer Activity of Curcumin in Human Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells.
abstract: Naturally occurring diarylheptanoid curcumin (CUR), a principal component of the Asian spice turmeric, has been shown to have anti-cancer effects in many tumor types. However, a detailed mechanism regarding CUR induced tumor cell killing remain to be comprehensively explored. Using two head neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines FaDu (hypopharyngeal) and Cal27 (tongue), we demonstrated a novel mechanism by which CUR levies the cytotoxic effect. We found that CUR induced upregulation of pro-apoptotic Bik, down-regulation of survival signaling by AKT and NF-κB prior to the induction of the caspase-cascade reduction of cell proliferation, are primary mechanisms of CUR-induced cell death, thus providing insights into the anti-tumor activity of CUR in HNSCC cells.
authors.affiliation: 1. The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China ; 2. Carmen and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Department of Otolaryngology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.affiliation: 1. The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: 2. Carmen and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Department of Otolaryngology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Michael U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Callaghan
authors.affiliation: 2. Carmen and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Department of Otolaryngology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA ; 3. Molecular Therapeutics Program, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fribley
authors.affiliation: 2. Carmen and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Department of Otolaryngology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Garshott
authors.affiliation: 1. The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China ; 4. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Zhi-Xiang
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: 1. The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China ; 4. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Qinghua
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: 1. The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: Bik; Curcumin; apoptosis; caspase-3; caspase-9; head and neck cancer; natural product; squamous cell carcinoma