title: Photodynamic Therapy Potentiates the Effects of Curcumin on Pediatric Epithelial Liver Tumor Cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Curcumin (CUM) is a promising agent in complementary oncology. The present study analyzed the photoactive properties of curcumin on pediatric epithelial liver tumor cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hepatoblastoma cell lines (HuH6, HepT1) and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HepG2, HC-AFW1) were treated with curcumin and exposed to blue light (phototherapy, 480 nm, 300 W). Cell viability (MTT tests), cellular oxidative stress (production of reactive oxygen species (ROS)) and cellular uptake/degradation of curcumin were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant loss of viability resulted from 24-48 h incubation with curcumin. With photodynamic therapy (PDT), even short time incubation (1 h) with curcumin resulted in significantly lower half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) (p<0.001, two-way ANOVA). Significant ROS production was observed with PDT and curcumin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phototherapy strongly enhances the anticancer properties of curcumin in pediatric solid liver tumors in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany mail@verenaellerkamp.de.
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ellerkamp
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bortel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Evi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kirchner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Sorin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Armeanu-Ebinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fuchs
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004357:Drug Synergism; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Curcumin; hepatocellular carcinoma; heptoblastoma; photodynamic therapy