Curcumin inhibits MCF-7 cells by modulating the NF-κB signaling pathway

The present study investigated the inhibitory effect of curcumin on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and investigated the potential underlying molecular mechanisms. MCF-7 cells were cultured with curcumin at different concentrations and time points. The effects of curcumin treatment on breast cancer cell proliferation were studied using a MTT assay. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were used to assess the mRNA and protein expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X (Bax), nuclear factor-kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kappa B) and inhibitor of NF-kappa B-alpha (I kappa Ba). The proliferation of MCF-7 cells in the group treated with curcumin was markedly decreased compared with the control, with the greatest inhibitory effect at a concentration of 20 mu M. The expression of Bax mRNA was increased and Bcl-2 mRNA expression was decreased compared with the control. Additionally, protein expression of NF-kappa B and I kappa B was increased. The data indicate that curcumin is able to inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation, possibly by regulating the NF-kappa B signaling pathway.