Figure 6
Curcumin increases 5-FU to block the proliferation and viability of HCT116 (a) and HCT116R (b) cells (1 × 106/ml) cultured in alginate beads. Phase-contrast microscopic observations after 14 days of HCT116 cells (a: A, B, C) (arrows), and HCT116R cells (b: A, B, C) (arrows) in alginate showed the inhibition of formation of spheroids and viability of cells by curcumin, 5-FU alone and in combination of them in serum-starved medium. Samples from 3 experiments were analyzed and representative data are shown. x24, bar=0.2 mm in all cases.