Effect of Curcumin Combined with Cisplatin on Human Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma Tca?8113 Cells / 中国医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of curcumin combined with cisplatin on the proliferation of human tongue squamous cell carcinoma Tca?8113 cells,and explore the possible mechanism of their anti?tumor effect in vitro. Methods In this study,the samples were divided into four groupscurcumin,cisplatin,curcumin combined with cisplatin,and control. Detection of rate of inhibition of Tca?8113 cell proliferation was carried out by MTT assay. This was followed by observation of the morphological changes of the nuclei by Hoechst 33258 fluorescence staining. Subse?quently,cellular apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry,and expression of Notch1 and epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)was examined by Western blotting. Results Results of MTT assay showed that curcumin combined with cisplatin inhibited the proliferation of tongue squamous cell carcinoma to a greater extent than either curcumin or cisplatin alone(P<0.05). Flow cytometry analysis indicated that,unlike curcumin or cisplatin alone,curcumin combined with cisplatin noticeably induced apoptosis(P<0.05). Results of Western blotting revealed that the expres?sion of Notch1 was upregulated,whereas the expression of EGFR was downregulated to a greater extent in the control group than in cells treated with curcumin or cisplatin alone. Unlike curcumin and cisplatin groups,the combined group revealed statistically significant expressions of Notch1 and EGFR(P<0.05). Conclusion Curcumin and cisplatin have a combined effect on inhibition of proliferation of human tongue squamous cell carcinoma Tca?8113 cells. The mechanism may be related to upregulation of the Notch1 signaling pathway and downregulation of the EGFR signal?ing pathway.