IngentaConnect Prevention and Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer by Curcumin in Comb...

Authors: Swamy, Malisetty¹; Citineni, Bhargava¹; Patlolla, Jagan¹; Mohammed, Altaf¹; Zhang, Yuting¹; Rao, Chinthalapally¹

Source: Nutrition and Cancer, Volume 60, Supplement 1, 2008 , pp. 81-89(9)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

Abstract:

Pancreatic cancer BxPC-3 cells were exposed to curcumin, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), or combinations of both and analyzed for proliferation and apoptosis. Pancreatic tumor xenografts were established by injecting BxPC-3 cells into each flank of nude mice. After the tumors reached a size of approximately 190-200 mm3, animals were fed diets with or without 2,000 ppm curcumin in 18% corn oil or 15% fish oil + 3% corn oil for 6 more wk before assessing the tumor volume and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygeanse-2 (COX-2), 5-lipoxinase (5-LOX), and p21. A synergistic effect was observed on induction of apoptosis (approximately sixfold) and inhibition of cell proliferation (approximately 70%) when cells were treated with curcumin (5 μ M) together with the DHA (25 μ M). Mice fed fish oil and curcumin showed a significantly reduced tumor volume, 25% (P < 0.04) and 43% (P < 0.005), respectively, and importantly, a combination of curcumin and fish oil diet showed > 72% (P < 0.0001) tumor volume reduction. Expression and activity of iNOS, COX-2, and 5-LOX are downregulated, and p21 is upregulated in tumor xenograft fed curcumin combined with fish oil diet when compared to individual diets. The preceding results evidence for the first time that curcumin combined with omega-3 fatty acids provide synergistic pancreatic tumor inhibitory properties.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/01635580802416703

Affiliations: 1: Department of Medicine, Hem-Onc Section, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

Prevention and Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer by Curcumin in Combination With Omega-3 Fatty Acids