Curcumin displays strong anti-melanoma effects

Curcumin, a compound found in the spice turmeric, shows cytotoxic activity in mouse melanoma cells resistant to doxorubicin (B16-R) and, when combined with immunotherapy, inhibits tumor growth in mice bearing B16-R melanoma.

In the September 1st issue of the International Journal of Cancer, Dr. Johann Odot from UFR Sciences in Reims, France and colleagues note that B16-R melanoma cells are poorly immunogenic and highly chemoresistant. These positive results suggest that curcumin “may provide a valuable tool” for the development of an immunotherapeutic against melanoma. The team reports that curcumin induces apoptosis in cultured B16-R melanoma cells in a time- and dose-dependent fashion via activation of the death receptor Fas-initiated FADD/caspase-8-dependent apoptosis pathway. Moreover, in B16-R melanoma-bearing mice, curcumin combined with a prophylactic immune preparation of soluble proteins from B16-R cells substantially inhibits tumor growth whereas curcumin alone or the immune preparation alone has little effect. Additionally, animals receiving the combination therapy displayed enhanced humoral anti-soluble B16-R protein immune responses and lived significantly longer than animals receiving the immune preparation alone or curcumin alone. The increase in median survival time was more than 82.8% in the combination group versus 48.6% and 45.7%, in the other two groups. Further studies on toxicity, biological activities, and molecular mechanisms of the anti-tumor effect of curcumin, the investigators conclude, “should provide effective strategies against melanoma and a wide range of cancers.” (Source: Int J Cancer 2004;111:381-387: Reuters Health News: September 2004.)