• Curcumin-Etoposide Synergy: Unveiling the Molecular Mechanisms of Enhanced Apoptosis and Chemoresistance Attenuation in Breast Cancer
  • Bahar Jaberian Asl,1,* Hossein Azizi Dariuni,2
    1. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
    2. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran


  • Introduction: The combination of natural compounds has emerged as a potential strategy to combat cancer. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol, exhibits various anti-cancer properties, such as inducing apoptosis and arresting cell cycle progression. The present investigation aimed to examine the impact of curcumin and etoposide, both independently and in conjunction, on the initiation of apoptosis in cell lines of breast cancer.
  • Methods: Curcumin and etoposide-treated cell proliferation was assessed using MTT viability assays. The drugs' influence on cancer cell apoptosis was evaluated using Annexin V flow cytometry and caspase-3 and 9 activity assays. Quantitative real-time PCR was utilized for assessing the gene expression of Bax and Bcl-2. The western blotting technique was employed to determine the quantity of p53, p21, Bax and Bcl-2 proteins.
  • Results: A non-significantly effective dose of etoposide was chosen through the MTT assay and used in combination with 75 µM of curcumin. Curcumin enhanced the effects of etoposide on cancer cell apoptosis by increasing caspase activities. Additionally, the combination of curcumin and etoposide exhibited a more significant reduction in the expression of the Bcl-2 gene and the concomitant upregulation of Bax expression. Furthermore, the protein levels of p53, p21 and Bax were elevated upon treatment with the curcumin and etoposide combination compared to etoposide and curcumin alone, while the levels of Bcl-2 protein were decreased, significantly.
  • Conclusion: Curcumin has the potential to enhance the apoptotic impact of etoposide on breast cancer cells. Therefore, we propose the aforementioned combination as a potential treatment for breast cancer.
  • Keywords: breast cancer, combination, curcumin, etoposide, apoptosis