Curcumin inhibits MPA-induced secretion of VEGF from T47-D human breast cancer cells.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Recent clinical trials show that women who receive combined estrogen and progestin hormone therapy (HT) have a higher risk of breast cancer than women who receive estrogen alone or placebo. We have shown that progestins stimulate expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent angiogenic factor, in human breast cancer cells that express the progesterone receptors and mutant p53 protein. Because increased levels of VEGF promote tumor progression, compounds that prevent progestin-induced expression of VEGF could be clinically useful. The objective of this study was to examine whether the polyphenol compound curcumin has the capacity to block progestin-induced secretion of VEGF from T47-D human breast cancer cells.

DESIGN:

The estrogen and progesterone receptor containing T47-D human breast cancer cells was exposed to 10 nM progesterone or synthetic progestins and varying concentrations of curcumin to determine whether curcumin blocks progestin-dependent production of VEGF from tumor cells.

RESULTS:

Curcumin (0.001-10 microM for 18 h) reduced medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA)-induced secretion of VEGF from T47-D cells in a dose-dependent manner. Secretion of VEGF from cells treated with progesterone or progestins other than MPA was unaffected by curcumin.

CONCLUSIONS:

MPA is the most widely used progestin in HT. Curcumin may therefore provide a clinically useful tool for the suppression of MPA-induced elaboration of VEGF by tumor cells. We propose therefore that clinical trials to assess the beneficial effects of curcumin in postmenopausal women are warranted.

• Authors: Candace E Carroll, Mark R Ellersieck, Salman M Hyder
• Journal: Menopause (New York, N.Y.) (Menopause) 2008 May-Jun Vol. 15 Issue 3 Pg. 570-4 ISSN: 1072-3714 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18467956 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
• Curcumin

Topics

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Breast Neoplasms (prevention & control)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Curcumin (pharmacology)
• Female
• Humans
• Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent (prevention & control)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (drug effects, metabolism)