Anti-cancer activity of amorphous curcumin preparation in patient-derived colorectal cancer organoids.

Despite its adverse effects, chemotherapy is generally used for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Development of supplement preparations targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) that cause distant metastasis and drug resistance is required. Although curcumin is known to have anti-tumor, hepatoprotective, and hypoglycemic-like actions, its low water solubility, oral absorption, and bioavailability impede its therapeutic uses. Patient-derived organoid cultures can recapitulate heterogeneity, epithelial structures, and molecular imprints of their parental tissues. In the present study, anti-carcinogenic properties of amorphous curcumin (AC), a compound with improved solubility and bioavailability, were evaluated against human CRC organoids. Treatment with AC inhibited the cell viability of CRC organoids in a concentration-dependent manner. AC arrested the cell cycle of CRC organoids and induced apoptosis. AC inhibited phosphorylation of ERK. Expression of downstream signals of ERK, namely c-MYC and cyclin-D1, were inhibited. Expressions of CSC markers, CD44, LGR5, and CD133, were declined in the AC-treated CRC organoids. The combinational treatment of CRC organoids with AC and anti-cancer drugs, oxaliplatin, 5-FU, or irinotecan showed a synergistic activity. In vivo, AC decreased the tumor growth of CRC organoids in mice with the induction of necrotic lesions. In conclusion, AC diminished the cell viability of CRC organoids through the inhibition of proliferation-related signals and CSC marker expression in addition to arresting the cell cycle. Collectively, these data suggest the value of AC as a promising supplement that could be used in combination with anti-cancer drugs to prevent the recurrence and metastasis of CRC.

Elbadawy M ，Hayashi K ，Ayame H ，Ishihara Y ，Abugomaa A ，Shibutani M ，Hayashi SM ，Hazama S ，Takenouchi H ，Nakajima M ，Tsunedomi R ，Suzuki N ，Nagano H ，Shinohara Y ，Kaneda M ，Yamawaki H ，Usui T ，Sasaki K ... -  《-》

Curcumin attenuates resistance to irinotecan via induction of apoptosis of cancer stem cells in chemoresistant colon cancer cells.

Su P ，Yang Y ，Wang G ，Chen X ，Ju Y ... -  《-》

Curcumin sensitizes human colorectal cancer to capecitabine by modulation of cyclin D1, COX-2, MMP-9, VEGF and CXCR4 expression in an orthotopic mouse model.

Because of the poor prognosis and the development of resistance against chemotherapeutic drugs, the current treatment for advanced metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) is ineffective. Whether curcumin (a component of turmeric) can potentiate the effect of capecitabine against growth and metastasis of CRC was investigated. The effect of curcumin on proliferation of CRC cell lines was examined by mitochondrial dye-uptake assay, apoptosis by esterase staining, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and gene expression by Western blot analysis. The effect of curcumin on the growth and metastasis of CRC was also examined in orthotopically implanted tumors in nude mice. In vitro, curcumin inhibited the proliferation of human CRC cell lines, potentiated capecitabine-induced apoptosis, inhibited NF-kappaB activation and suppressed NF-kappaB-regulated gene products. In nude mice, the combination of curcumin and capecitabine was found to be more effective than either agent alone in reducing tumor volume (p = 0.001 vs. control; p = 0.031 vs. capecitabine alone), Ki-67 proliferation index (p = 0.001 vs. control) and microvessel density marker CD31. The combination treatment was also highly effective in suppressing ascites and distant metastasis to the liver, intestines, lungs, rectum and spleen. This effect was accompanied by suppressed expression of activated NF-kappaB and NF-kappaB-regulated gene products (cyclin D1,c-myc, bcl-2, bcl-xL, cIAP-1, COX-2, ICAM-1, MMP-9, CXCR4 and VEGF). Overall, our results suggest that curcumin sensitizes CRC to the antitumor and antimetastatic effects of capecitabine by suppressing NF-kappaB cell signaling pathway.

Kunnumakkara AB ，Diagaradjane P ，Anand P ，Harikumar KB ，Deorukhkar A ，Gelovani J ，Guha S ，Krishnan S ，Aggarwal BB ... -  《-》

Anti-cancer activity of Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) against dog bladder cancer organoids.

Despite its disadvantages, chemotherapy is still commonly used for the treatment of bladder cancer (BC). Developing natural supplements that can target cancer stem cells (CSCs) which cause drug resistance and distant metastasis is necessary. Chaga mushrooms are popular to have several health-promoting and anti-cancer potentials. Organoid culture can recapitulate tumor heterogeneity, epithelial environment, and genetic and molecular imprints of the original tissues. In the previous study, we generated dog bladder cancer organoids (DBCO) as a novel experimental model of muscle-invasive BCO. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the anti-tumor potentials of Chaga mushroom extract (Chaga) against DBCO. Four strains of DBCO were used in the present study. Treatment with Chaga inhibited the cell viability of DBCO in a concentration-dependent way. Treatment of DBCO with Chaga has significantly arrested its cell cycle and induced apoptosis. Expression of bladder CSC markers, CD44, C-MYC, SOX2, and YAP1, declined in the Chaga-treated DBCO. Also, Chaga inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK in DBCO. Expression of downstream signals of ERK, C-MYC, and Cyclins (Cyclin-A2, Cyclin-D1, Cyclin-E1, and CDK4) was also inhibited by Chaga in DBCO. Interestingly, the combinational treatment of DBCO with Chaga and anti-cancer drugs, vinblastine, mitoxantrone, or carboplatin, showed a potentiating activity. In vivo, Chaga administration decreased tumor growth and weight of DBCO-derived xenograft in mice with the induction of necrotic lesions. In conclusion, Chaga diminished the cell viability of DBCO by inhibiting proliferation-related signals and stemness conditions as well as by arresting the cell cycle. Collectively, these data suggest the value of Chaga as a promising natural supplement that could potentiate the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy, lower its adverse effects, and thus, limit the recurrence and metastasis of BC.

Abugomaa A ，Elbadawy M ，Ishihara Y ，Yamamoto H ，Kaneda M ，Yamawaki H ，Shinohara Y ，Usui T ，Sasaki K ... -  《Frontiers in Pharmacology》

Hedgehog Signals Mediate Anti-Cancer Drug Resistance in Three-Dimensional Primary Colorectal Cancer Organoid Culture.

Usui T ，Sakurai M ，Umata K ，Elbadawy M ，Ohama T ，Yamawaki H ，Hazama S ，Takenouchi H ，Nakajima M ，Tsunedomi R ，Suzuki N ，Nagano H ，Sato K ，Kaneda M ，Sasaki K ... -  《INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES》