Curcumin exerts cytotoxicity dependent on reactive oxygen species accumulation in non-small-cell lung cancer cells. (7th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Cuijuan; Song, Xingguo; Shang, Ming; Zou, Wei; Zhang, Mengping; Wei, Haiyan; Shao, Hua
• Is Part Of: Future oncology. Volume 15:Number 11(2019)
• Page Start: 1243
• Page End: 1253
• Publication Date: 2019-03-07
• Subjects: curcumin -- DNA damage -- ER stress -- mitochondrial apoptosis -- non-small-cell lung cancer -- reactive oxygen species; Oncology -- Periodicals; 616.99405
• DOI: 10.2217/fon-2018-0708
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1479-6694

Abstract

Aim: Curcumin induces cytotoxic cell death in several human cancer cells. Here, we have investigated the effects of curcumin on non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with an aim to identify underlying mechanisms of its cytotoxic effect.Materials & methods: The effects of various concentrations of curcumin on the NSCLC cell lines A549 and SPC-A1 were evaluated by MTT assay, colony-forming assay and flow cytometry. Additionally, protein expression associated with different signaling pathways was assessed using western blotting.Results: Curcumin exhibited cytotoxicity against NSCLC, evident from the inhibition of cell proliferation, G2/M arrest, DNA damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial apoptosis. The anticancer effect was related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and could be reversed by ROS scavengers, catalase and N -acetyl-l -cysteine. Curcumin decreased mitochondrial transmembrane potential and induced ROS production, thereby activating the DNA damage/repair pathway and mitochondrial apoptosis.Conclusion: These results indicate that curcumin could be an effective therapeutic candidate for NSCLC.