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Updated: Jun 7, 2026
14:57
Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53
Published on: August 4, 2019
Curcumin-altered p53-response genes regulate radiosensitivity in p53-mutant Ewing's sarcoma cells
J Veeraraghavan1, M Natarajan, T S Herman
1Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
Anticancer Research
|November 2, 2010
Summary
Curcumin enhances radiation therapy in p53 mutant Ewing sarcoma cells by affecting apoptosis and DNA damage. This suggests curcumin as a potential radiosensitizer, though its p53-independent effects require further study.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Radiotherapy
Background:
- Curcumin exhibits antitumor properties, including radiosensitization, by targeting molecules like p53.
- Ewing's sarcoma (ES) is a cancer often characterized by p53 mutations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the radiosensitizing effect of curcumin in p53-mutant Ewing's sarcoma (ES) cells.
- To explore curcumin's impact on p53 downstream targets and related cellular processes.
Main Methods:
- ES cells were treated with radiation and/or curcumin.
- Transcriptional and translational levels of p53 downstream targets were analyzed.
- Apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, cell survival, and clonal expansion were assessed.
Main Results:
- Curcumin modulated the expression of p21, Bax, BclXl, and Mcl1 in response to radiation.
- Radiation with or without curcumin did not alter p53 levels.
- Curcumin enhanced radiation-induced apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, cytotoxicity, and clonal expansion.
Conclusions:
- Curcumin demonstrates radiosensitizing potential in p53-mutant ES cells.
- The radiosensitization appears to be mediated through the regulation of IR-modulated p53-response genes.
- Further research is needed to understand the p53-independent mechanisms of curcumin's action.
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