Work

Curcumin inhibits growth and triggers apoptosis in human castration-resistant prostate cancer cells via IGF-1/PI3K/Akt pathway

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the possible mechanism by which curcumin inhibits human prostate cancer (PCa) and castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). METHODS: CRPC cells were treated with curcumin and their viability was assessed by MTT assay and apoptosis was detected by annexinV/propidium iodide double-staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling assays. Expression levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) were determined by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, and forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) expression and phosphorylation were assessed by western blotting. RESULTS: The highly expressed PCa-related molecule IGF-1R was down-regulated in CRPC cells after curcumin treatment, as determined by RT-qPCR and western blotting. In addition, curcumin inhibited the tumor-related PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in CRPC cells. Moreover curcumin down-regulated the IGF-1/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in tumors derived from CRPC cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that curcumin inhibits growth and triggers apoptosis of human CRPC cells via the IGF-1/PI3K/Akt pathway, thus providing potential new therapeutic strategies for PCa and CRPC.

Source: Journal of International Medical Research

DOI: 10.1177/03000605231220807

Authors: Chao Chen, Qiwu Wang, Jiwen Liu

Institution: Chengdu Military General Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Curcumin's Biomedical Applications

Subfield: Molecular Medicine

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,155