Curcumin inhibits invasion and metastasis in the human ovarian cancer cells SKOV3 by CXCL12–CXCR4 axis

Effects of curcumin on invasion and metastasis in the human ovarian cancer cells SKOV3 and approach if this inhibitory effects are related with CXCL12–CXCR4 axis were carefully studied. SKOV3 cells were treated with 10, 25, 50 ìmol/l curcumin for 24, 48 and 72 h. Proliferation of SKOV3 cells was measured with 3-(4,5-demethy-2-thiazolyl)-2,5- dephenyl-2H-tetrazolium-bromide (MTT) assay. Invasion and metastasis of SKOV3 cells were evaluated with transwell chamber. The expressions of CXCL-12 and CXCR4 were detected by western-blot. After being treated with curcumin, the proliferation of SKOV3 cells was inhibited in a time and dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). In invasion assay, the number of cells in curcumin treated group to migrate to filter coated with Matrigel was reduced compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, in migration assay, the number of cells in curcumin treated group to migrate to filter was also decreased compared with the control group (P <0.05). The expression level of CXCL-12 and CXCR4 were decreased. Our study indicated that curcumin could inhibit the invasion and metastasis of the human ovarian cancer cells SKOV3. Inhibiting the expression of CXCL-12 and CXCR4 was probably one of its molecular mechanisms.Key words: Ovarian cancer, curcumin, invasion, metastasis