Potential therapeutic efficacy of curcumin in liver cancer

• Published in: Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP Vol. 14; no. 6; pp. 3855 - 3859
• Main Authors: Dai, Xin-Zheng, Yin, Hai-Tao, Sun, Ling-Fei, Hu, Xiang, Zhou, Chong, Zhou, Yun, Zhang, Wei, Huang, Xin-En, Li, Xiang-Cheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thailand 01.01.2013
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Apoptosis - drug effects; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - metabolism; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Caspase 3 - metabolism; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Curcumin - pharmacology; Enzyme Activation; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Liver Neoplasms - drug therapy; Liver Neoplasms - metabolism; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Mice; Mice, Nude; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
• ISSN: 1513-7368; 2476-762X
• DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2013.14.6.3855

Liver cancer, one of the most common cancers in China, is reported to feature relatively high morbidity and mortality. Curcumin (Cum) is considered as a drug possessing anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation effect. Previous research has demonstrated antitumor effects in a series of cancers. In this study the in vitro cytotoxicity of Cum was measured by MTT assay and pro-apoptotic effects were assessed by DAPI staining and measurement of caspase-3 activity. In vivo anti-hepatoma efficacy of Cum was assessed with HepG2 xenografts. It is found that Cum dose-dependently inhibited cell growth in HepG2 cells with activation of apoptosis. Moreover, Cum delayed the growth of liver cancer in a dose-dependent manner in nude mice. Cum might be a promising phytomedicine in cancer therapy and further efforts are needed to explore this therapeutic strategy.