Cytotoxic, chemosensitizing and radiosensitizing effects of curcumin based on thioredoxin system inhibition in breast cancer cells: 2D vs. 3D cell culture system

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Cytotoxic, chemosensitizing and radiosensitizing effects of curcumin based on thioredoxin system inhibition in breast cancer cells: 2D vs. 3D cell culture system Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2021 May;21(5):506. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.9937. Epub 2021 Mar 18. ABSTRACT Targeting the thioredoxin/thioredoxin reductase (Trx/TrxR) system is a promising strategy to overcome cancer resistance to conventional therapy. The present study investigated the effect of curcumin on the Trx/TrxR system either alone or in combination with chemotherapy, or radiotherapy in human MCF-7 breast cancer cells seeded in 2 and 3D culture systems. Cell viability, thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) activity, and the genetic expression of Trx, TrxR1, Bcl2 and BAX genes were studied. The findings showed that the mode of culture significantly affected the response of cancer cells to different treatment modalities, as well as their gene expression patterns. Curcumin treatment resulted in a reduction of breast cancer cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis, an effect that may be mediated by manipulating Trx system components, mainly Trx expre ssion, and to a lesser extent TrxR1 expression and concentration. Furthermore, curcumin increased the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to chemotherapy and radiotherapy by reducing Trx and TrxR1 expression levels. Thus, curcumin may have a potential role as a dose-modifying agent that can be used either to sensitize resistant cells to therapy or to reduce the dose of these therapeutic agents. PMID:33791015 | PMC:PMC8005724 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.9937 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.