Figure 1

Curcumin sensitizes MDA-MB-231 cells to RA-mediated growth suppression. (A) MDA-MD-231 cells were treated with varying dose of curcumin for 48 hours. Control was DMSO. The % cell proliferation for each of the treatment with curcumin for the designated concentration was calculated with respect to the treatment with DMSO. Data are mean of ± SE (n = 3). *p = 0.008 versus control, **p = 0.007 versus control (B) MDA-MD-231 cells were treated with 30 μM curcumin for varying time. Control was DMSO. The % cell proliferation for each of the treatment with curcumin for the designated time was calculated with respect to the treatment with DMSO for the corresponding time. Data are mean of ± SE (n = 3). *p = 0.0025 versus control, **p = 0.002 versus control, ***p = 0.0007 versus control. (C) MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with 1 μM ATRA (RA), 10 μM or 20 μM curcumin and the combination of both agents for 48 hours. Control was DMSO, ethanol or a combination of both. The % cell proliferation for each of the treatment (curcumin, ATRA or both) was calculated relative to their solvent, DMSO, ethanol or DMSO and ethanol, respectively. The controls were set at 100%. Data are mean of ± SE (n = 3). (D) MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with 1 μM ATRA, 30 μM curcumin, or 30 μM curcumin and 1 μM ATRA for 48 hours. Control was DMSO, ethanol or a combination of both. The % cell proliferation for each of the treatment (curcumin, ATRA or both) was calculated relative to their solvent, DMSO, ethanol or DMSO and ethanol, respectively. The controls were set at 100%. Data are mean of ± SE (n = 4). *p = 0.000036 versus curcumin treatment.