title: Curcumin potentiates the effect of chemotherapy against acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells via downregulation of NF-κB.
abstract: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) accounts for 30% of all pediatric cancers. Currently available treatments exhibit toxicity and certain patients may develop resistance. Thus, less toxic and chemoresistance-reversal agents are required. In the present study, the potential effect of curcumin, a component ofCurcuma longa, as a pharmacological co-adjuvant of several chemotherapeutic agents against ALL, including prednisone, 6-mercaptopurine, dexamethasone, cyclophosphamide, l-asparaginase, vincristine, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, methotrexate and cytarabine, was investigated in the REH ALL cell line cultures treated in combination with chemotherapeutic agents and curcumin. The results of cell viability, gene expression and activation of NF-κB and caspase 3 indicated that curcumin potentiates the anticancer effects of the aforementioned chemotherapeutic agents in the REH ALL cell line. Following treatment with the above chemotherapeutic agents, curcumin enhanced caspase-3 activation and downregulated nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation. Curcumin also downregulated the oxidative stress induced by certain chemotherapies. Notably, curcumin did not affect the gene expression of cell survival proteins such as B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2, Bcl-extra large, survivin, c-Myc and cyclin D1, which are regulated by the NF-κB transcription factor. In conclusion, curcumin has the potential to improve the effect of chemotherapeutic agents against ALL.
authors.affiliation: Cytogenetics, Genotoxicity and Biomonitoring Laboratory, Human Genetic Institute 'Dr. Enrique Corona Rivera', PhD Program in Molecular Biology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, México; Cytogenetics Unit, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Service, Pediatric Division, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, México.
authors.forename: Helia Judith
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Pimentel-Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: Cytogenetics, Genotoxicity and Biomonitoring Laboratory, Human Genetic Institute 'Dr. Enrique Corona Rivera', PhD Program in Molecular Biology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, México; Cytogenetics Unit, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Service, Pediatric Division, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, México.
authors.forename: Lucina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bobadilla-Morales
authors.affiliation: Cytogenetics Unit, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Service, Pediatric Division, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, México.
authors.forename: César Cenobio
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Barba-Barba
authors.affiliation: Cytogenetics Unit, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Service, Pediatric Division, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, México.
authors.forename: Citlalli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ortega-De-La-Torre
authors.affiliation: Cytogenetics Unit, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Service, Pediatric Division, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, México.
authors.forename: Fernando Antonio
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Zubieta
authors.affiliation: Cytogenetics, Genotoxicity and Biomonitoring Laboratory, Human Genetic Institute 'Dr. Enrique Corona Rivera', PhD Program in Molecular Biology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, México; Cytogenetics Unit, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Service, Pediatric Division, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, México.
authors.forename: Jorge Román
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Corona-Rivera
authors.affiliation: Cytogenetics, Genotoxicity and Biomonitoring Laboratory, Human Genetic Institute 'Dr. Enrique Corona Rivera', PhD Program in Molecular Biology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, México.
authors.forename: Betsy Annel
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: González-Quezada
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Gene Therapy Institute, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, México.
authors.forename: Juan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Armendáriz-Borunda
authors.affiliation: Cytogenetics, Genotoxicity and Biomonitoring Laboratory, Human Genetic Institute 'Dr. Enrique Corona Rivera', PhD Program in Molecular Biology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, México.
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silva-Cruz
authors.affiliation: Cytogenetics, Genotoxicity and Biomonitoring Laboratory, Human Genetic Institute 'Dr. Enrique Corona Rivera', PhD Program in Molecular Biology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, México; Cytogenetics Unit, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Service, Pediatric Division, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, México.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corona-Rivera
keywords: NF-κB; chemotherapy; curcumin; leukemia