Sensitizing human multiple myeloma cells to the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib by novel curcumin analogs

  • Authors:
    • Taskeen Mujtaba
    • Jyoti Kanwar
    • Sheng Biao Wan
    • Tak Hang Chan
    • Q. Ping Dou
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 13, 2011     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2011.814
  • Pages: 102-106
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Abstract

The proteasome plays a vital role in the degradation of proteins involved in several pathways including the cell cycle, cellular proliferation and apoptosis and is a validated target in cancer treatment. Bortezomib (Velcade®, PS-341) is the first US FDA approved proteasome inhibitor anticancer drug used in the treatment of refractory multiple myeloma. In spite of its improved efficacy compared to alternative therapies, about 60% of patients do not respond to bortezomib due to the emergence of resistance. We hypothesized that novel small molecules could enhance the proteasome-inhibitory and anticancer activities of bortezomib in resistant multiple myeloma cells in vitro and in vivo. The dietary polyphenol curcumin has been shown to exert anti-cancer activity in several cancer cell lines, but the effects of curcumin in solid tumors have been modest primarily due to poor water solubility and poor bioavailability in tissues remote from the gastrointestinal tract. Here we show that the water-soluble analog of curcumin #12, but not curcumin, in combination with bortezomib could enhance the proteasome-inhibitory effect in multiple myeloma cells. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the myeloma cells to cytotoxic killing in the presence of otherwise sublethal concentrations of bortezomib was enhanced by incubation with the curcumin analog #12. These findings justify further investigation into those combinations that may yield potential therapeutic benefit.

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January 2012
Volume 29 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Mujtaba T, Kanwar J, Wan SB, Chan TH and Dou QP: Sensitizing human multiple myeloma cells to the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib by novel curcumin analogs. Int J Mol Med 29: 102-106, 2012
APA
Mujtaba, T., Kanwar, J., Wan, S.B., Chan, T.H., & Dou, Q.P. (2012). Sensitizing human multiple myeloma cells to the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib by novel curcumin analogs. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 29, 102-106. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2011.814
MLA
Mujtaba, T., Kanwar, J., Wan, S. B., Chan, T. H., Dou, Q. P."Sensitizing human multiple myeloma cells to the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib by novel curcumin analogs". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 29.1 (2012): 102-106.
Chicago
Mujtaba, T., Kanwar, J., Wan, S. B., Chan, T. H., Dou, Q. P."Sensitizing human multiple myeloma cells to the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib by novel curcumin analogs". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 29, no. 1 (2012): 102-106. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2011.814