Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2025
10:38
Establishing 3-Dimensional Spheroids from Patient-Derived Tumor Samples and Evaluating their Sensitivity to Drugs
Published on: December 16, 2022
2.1K
Anti-Cancer Properties of Two Intravenously Administrable Curcumin Formulations as Evaluated in the 3D
Marlene Niederreiter1, Julia Klein1, Sebastian B M Schmitz1
1Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377 Munich, Germany.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|August 10, 2024
Summary
Curcumin formulations show variable anti-cancer effects, with combinations enhancing efficacy. Individual patient testing is crucial for optimizing curcumin-based cancer therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Complementary Medicine
Background:
- Curcumin is a widely used complementary drug in cancer therapy.
- Patient-derived spheroid models offer a platform for evaluating drug efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the anti-cancer effects of two curcumin formulations (CurA, CurB) in mono- and combination therapy.
- To investigate the influence of patient-specific factors and combination agents on curcumin efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Preparation and treatment of 82 patient-derived cancer spheroid samples.
- Assessment of cell viability and morphology after 72 hours of treatment.
- Comparison of curcumin formulations against solvent controls and in combination with standard therapies and other agents.
Main Results:
- Curcumin formulations demonstrated significant inhibitory effects, with CurA (-10.01%) and CurB (-6.30%) showing varied efficacy across cancer types and patient demographics.
- Curcumin was more effective in prostate cancer and in patients <40 and >70 years old.
- Combinations with standard therapies and agents like Artesunate showed superior outcomes in a significant proportion of samples, with CurB enhancing chemo-doublets more effectively than CurA.
Conclusions:
- Curcumin formulations exhibit considerable variability in anti-cancer activity, necessitating personalized treatment strategies.
- Combination therapies, particularly with Artesunate, can significantly enhance curcumin's efficacy.
- Individual testing of curcumin formulations is recommended prior to clinical administration to optimize patient outcomes.
