Antiangiogenic activity of curcumin in hepatocellular carcinoma cells implanted nude mice

Antiangiogenic activity of curcumin on the tumor neogenesis was investigated by evaluating the density of neocapillaries induced by Hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) in mice, using intravital fluorescence videomicroscopy. Male BALB/c nude mice (20-25 g) were used, and a dorsal skin-fold chamber was implanted. HepG2 (30 microl of 2 x 10(6) cells) were inoculated on the upper surface of the skin within the chamber. The mice were divided into two groups as follows. Dimethyl sulfoxide solution (0.1%) was fed (HepG2 group, n=5) or curcumin solution (3000 mg/kg bw) was fed oral daily (HepG2-Cur group, n=5), one day after the inoculation of HepG. On days 7 and 14 post-tumor-inoculation, the tumor microvasculature was visualized by injecting 0.1 ml of 0.5% rhodamine B isothiocyanate-labeled dextran intravenously, and observed under an intravital fluorescence videomicroscope. Based on the recorded videoimage, the tumor neocapillary density and microvasculature were evaluated using a digital image analysis and correlated with the tumor area. The image analysis demonstrated that in the HepG2-group the neocapillary densities were significantly increased on day 7, and day 14, compared to the aged-matched Sham-group (P<0.05). In the HepG2-Cur group, the increase of tumor neocapillary density was attenuated significantly. It was suggested that high dose of curcumin might be an effective anti-angiogenic drug in the treatment against tumor.