Nano-curcumin’s suppression of breast cancer cells (MCF7) through the inhibition of cyclinD1 expression

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer worldwide. The high expenses associated with chemotherapy as well as its side effects make the management of breast cancer a daunting challenge. The most common overexpressed gene in breast cancer is cyclinD1, which induces cell proliferation. Recent investigations into cancer treatment have revealed that curcumin demonstrates potential anti-cancer properties through different pathways. However, the oral bioavailability of curcumin is negligible due to its high hydrophobic structure. Nanotechnology has been employed to overcome this barrier. Nano-formulated curcumin (SinaCurcumin(®)) has been shown to provide a significantly higher bioavailability for oral consumption. However, the efficacy of this nano-formulated drug in breast cancer has not yet been determined. In relation to the breast cancer cell line, the present study compared nano-curcumin’s anti-cancer properties with those of cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, and 5-fluorouracil (CAF). METHODS: After treating MCF7 with nano-curcumin and CAF, the present work assessed cell viability via an MTT assay. The effects of these drugs on cyclinD1 expression were measured by real-time PCR. SPSS 16.0 was used to perform ANOVA and multiple range tests. RESULTS: Nano-curcumin and the CAF regimen both lowered the viability of MCF7. Nano-curcumin decreased cell proliferation by 83.6%, which was more than that achieved by cyclophosphamide (63.31%), adriamycin (70.75%), and 5-fluorouracil (75.04%). In addition, curcumin was able to significantly reduce the expression of cyclinD1, whereas CAF did not alter cyclinD1 expression. CONCLUSION: Nano-curcumin has a relatively high cytotoxic effect on MCF7 breast cancer cells, suppressing the expression of cyclinD1, a critical gene in the development and metastasis of breast cancer. The current study demonstrated that nano-curcumin can be an effective drug in the CAF regimen for the treatment of breast cancer. However, further in vivo research is needed for determining its efficacy and safety in clinical applications.