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Updated: Jul 11, 2025

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Curcumin Suppresses M2 Macrophage-derived Paclitaxel Chemoresistance through Inhibition of PI3K-AKT/STAT3 Signaling

Bhawna Deswal1,2, Urmi Bagchi1, Sonia Kapoor1

  • 1Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201313, India.

Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
|November 14, 2023
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Curcumin can reduce the chemoresistance of breast cancer cells by modulating M2 tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). This study shows curcumin inhibits M2 TAMs from inducing paclitaxel resistance, offering a new therapeutic strategy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality in women globally.
  • Chemoresistance in breast cancer, often driven by M2 tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), leads to recurrence and mortality.
  • Curcumin is known to enhance chemotherapy efficacy, but its effect on M2 TAMs is unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if curcumin can modulate M2 macrophages.
  • To determine if curcumin suppresses M2 macrophage-induced chemoresistance to paclitaxel in breast cancer cells.

Main Methods:

  • THP-1 cells were differentiated into M2 macrophages with or without curcumin.
  • The impact of M2 macrophage-conditioned medium on paclitaxel resistance in breast cancer cells was assessed via proliferation, cell cycle, migration, and wound healing assays.
  • Gene and protein expression of cytokines (e.g., TGF-β) and signaling pathways (e.g., AKT, STAT3) were analyzed using RT-PCR and Western blotting.

Main Results:

  • Curcumin-treated M2 macrophages lost their ability to induce paclitaxel resistance in breast cancer cells.
  • Curcumin abrogated TGF-β expression in M2 macrophages, a key cytokine driving chemoresistance.
  • Curcumin inhibited the PI3K/AKT/STAT3 signaling pathway in M2 macrophages and suppressed their activation of COX2/NF-κB in breast cancer cells.

Conclusions:

  • Curcumin effectively reduces the chemoresistance-conferring ability of M2 TAMs.
  • Curcumin offers a non-cancer cell-autonomous mechanism to overcome paclitaxel resistance in breast cancer.
Keywords:
TGF-βTumor-associated macrophagesbreast cancerchemoresistancecurcuminpaclitaxel chemoresistance.

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