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Updated: Sep 3, 2025
Identification, Histological Characterization, and Dissection of Mouse Prostate Lobes for In Vitro 3D Spheroid Culture Models
Published on: September 18, 2018
The Role of Curcumin in Prostate Cancer Cells and Derived Spheroids
Mariarosaria Boccellino1, Pasqualina Ambrosio1, Andrea Ballini1
1Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy.
Abstract:
A major challenge in the clinical management of prostate cancer (PC) is to inhibit tumor growth and prevent metastatic spreading. In recent years, considerable efforts have been made to discover new compounds useful for PC therapy, and promising advances in this field were reached. Drugs currently used in PC therapy frequently induce resistance and PC progresses toward metastatic castration-resistant forms (mCRPC), making it virtually incurable. Curcumin, a commercially available nutritional supplement, represents an attractive therapeutic agent for mCRPC patients. In the present study, we compared the effects of chemotherapeutic drugs such as docetaxel, paclitaxel, and cisplatin, to curcumin, on two PC cell lines displaying a different metastatic potential: DU145 (moderate metastatic potential) and PC-3 (high metastatic potential). Our results revealed a dose-dependent reduction of DU145 and PC-3 cell viability upon treatment with curcumin similar to chemotherapeutic agents (paclitaxel, cisplatin, and docetaxel). Furthermore, we explored the EGFR-mediated signaling effects on ERK activation in DU145 and PC-3 cells. Our results showed that DU145 and PC-3 cells overexpress EGFR, and the treatment with chemotherapeutic agents or curcumin reduced EGFR expression levels and ERK activation. Finally, chemotherapeutic agents and curcumin reduced the size of DU145 and PC-3 spheroids and have the potential to induce apoptosis and also in Matrigel. In conclusion, despite different studies being carried out to identify the potential synergistic curcumin combinations with chemopreventive/therapeutic efficacy for inhibiting PC growth, the results show the ability of curcumin used alone, or in combinatorial approaches, to impair the size and the viability of PC-derived spheroids.
Insights
Curcumin, a nutritional supplement, effectively reduces prostate cancer (PC) cell viability and growth, similar to chemotherapy drugs. It also inhibits EGFR signaling and ERK activation, offering potential for PC treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Prostate cancer (PC) poses significant clinical challenges, particularly its progression to metastatic castration-resistant forms (mCRPC).
- Current therapies often lead to drug resistance, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic agents.
- Curcumin, a natural compound, shows promise as a potential therapeutic agent for mCRPC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of curcumin with standard chemotherapeutic drugs (docetaxel, paclitaxel, cisplatin) in inhibiting PC cell growth.
- To investigate the effects of curcumin and chemotherapy on EGFR-mediated signaling and ERK activation in PC cells.
- To evaluate the impact of curcumin on the viability and apoptosis of PC cell-derived spheroids.
Main Methods:
- Treatment of DU145 (moderate metastatic potential) and PC-3 (high metastatic potential) prostate cancer cell lines with curcumin and chemotherapeutic agents.
- Assessment of cell viability using dose-dependent assays.
- Analysis of EGFR expression and ERK activation.
- Evaluation of spheroid size reduction and induction of apoptosis in Matrigel.
Main Results:
- Curcumin demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in DU145 and PC-3 cell viability, comparable to paclitaxel, cisplatin, and docetaxel.
- Both curcumin and chemotherapy agents reduced EGFR expression and ERK activation in PC cells.
- Curcumin and chemotherapy agents effectively reduced the size of PC spheroids and induced apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- Curcumin exhibits significant anti-prostate cancer activity, comparable to established chemotherapeutic drugs.
- Curcumin impacts key signaling pathways, including EGFR/ERK, involved in PC progression.
- Curcumin shows potential as a standalone or combination therapy for inhibiting prostate cancer growth and spread.
