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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Revealing the Ferroptotic Phenotype of Medulloblastoma
Published on: March 15, 2024
Curcumin induces ferroptosis in ovarian cancer cells through the Nrf2/GPX4 regulation axis
Nan Liu1,2, Ye-Ting Cui1,2, Yi Zheng3
1Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Expert Workstation, Huizhou Central People's Hospital Huizhou 516001, Guangdong, China.
Abstract:
Ovarian cancer (OC) frequently develops acquired resistance to traditional anti-tumor treatments, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. This study investigated whether curcumin can induce ferroptosis in OC cells through the Nrf2/GPX4 regulation axis, and whether Nrf2 overexpression can confer resistance to curcumin in OC cells. SK-OV-3 and A2780 cells were treated with curcumin, and the effects on cell viability, migration, and invasion were evaluated using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing, Transwell assay, and flow cytometry. Ferroptosis-associated changes were assessed by measuring intracellular Fe2+, malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) levels, and protein expression of Nrf2, SLC7A11, and GPX4 was analyzed by Western blot. Additionally, Nrf2-overexpressing SK-OV-3 and A2780 cell lines were established for functional evaluation. Our results demonstrated that curcumin inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of SK-OV-3 and A2780 cells in a dose-dependent manner, while inducing apoptosis and ferroptosis, as evidenced by elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), MDA, Fe2+ levels, and depletion of GSH. Moreover, curcumin suppressed the Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway in these cells. Conversely, Nrf2 overexpression significantly upregulated the protein levels of SLC7A11 and GPX4 and enhanced the survival, migration, and invasion capabilities of SK-OV-3 and A2780 OC cells. Furthermore, Nrf2 overexpression significantly attenuated curcumin-induced apoptosis and ferroptosis in SK-OV-3 and A2780 cells, effectively preserving the antioxidant capacity of OC cells. These findings indicate that curcumin exerts anti-tumor effects in SK-OV-3 and A2780 OC cells by inducing apoptosis and ferroptosis through inhibition of the Nrf2/GPX4 signaling axis. Conversely, overexpression of Nrf2 strengthens the endogenous antioxidant defense system in SK-OV-3 and A2780 OC cells, contributing to curcumin resistance. Therefore, targeted regulation of the Nrf2/GPX4 signaling axis may represent a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer.
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