Cancer Management and Research (Feb 2020)
Curcumin Inhibits the Tumorigenesis of Breast Cancer by Blocking Tafazzin/Yes-Associated Protein Axis
Abstract
Yuxiu Shen, Zaigang Han, Shuang Liu, Yang Jiao, Ying Li, Hongyan Yuan Department of Pharmacology, Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University, Jilin City, Jilin Province 132000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yuxiu ShenDepartment of Pharmacology, Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University, No. 12, Jiefang Middle Road, Jilin City, Jilin Province 132000, Tel +86- 13384401555Email [email protected]: This study was aimed to explore the anti-tumor effect of curcumin on breast cancer (BC) and the underlying mechanism involving Tafazzin (TAZ)/Yes-associated protein (YAP) axis.Methods: Different concentrations of curcumin (0, 10, 20 and 30 μM) were used to treat BC cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells). The viability, colony formation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of BC cells were detected by MTT, colony formation, flow cytometry, wound-healing and transwell assay, respectively. The protein expression of TAZ and YAP (effectors of Hippo signaling pathway) was detected by Western blot. MDA-MB-231 cells were injected into mice to verify the anti-tumor effect of curcumin in vivo.Results: Curcumin (20 and 30 μM) inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted the apoptosis of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Curcumin decreased the protein expression of TAZ and YAP in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Overexpression of YAP reversed the anti-tumor effect of curcumin on MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition, curcumin (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg/d) inhibited the growth of tumor xenografts in mice, and down-regulated the protein expression of TAZ and YAP in tumor xenografts. However, curcumin at a concentration of 300 mg/kg/d slowed the increasing of body weight in mice.Conclusion: Curcumin inhibited the tumorigenesis of BC by blocking TAZ/YAP axis.Keywords: curcumin, breast cancer, Hippo signaling pathway, proliferation, metastasis
