RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Maspin Enhances the Anticancer Activity of Curcumin in Hormone-refractory Prostate Cancer Cells JF Anticancer Research JO Anticancer Res FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 863 OP 870 VO 38 IS 2 A1 WAN-LI CHENG A1 CHIEN-YU HUANG A1 CHENG-JENG TAI A1 YU-JIA CHANG A1 CHIN-SHENG HUNG YR 2018 UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/38/2/863.abstract AB Background/Aim: Androgen deprivation therapy remains the principal treatment for patients with advanced prostate cancer, though, most patients will eventually develop hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). Androgen ablation mediated maspin-induction has been identified in cancer patients. However, the role of maspin on the anticancer activity of curcumin derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa) in HRPC cells has not been elucidated. Materials and Methods: The anticancer action of curcumin in hormone-independent prostate cancer cells (DU145, and PC-3) was determined by measures of cell survival rate. The cause of maspin silencing on the anti-tumor abilities of curcumin in PC-3 cells was evaluated by measures of cell survival rate, cell-cycle distribution, and apoptosis signaling analysis. Results: Our present study showed that PC-3 cells (with higher maspin expression) were more sensitive than DU145 cells to curcumin treatment (with lower maspin expression). RNA interference-mediated maspin silencing reduced curcumin sensitivity of PC-3 cells, as evidenced by reduced apoptotic cell death. After exposure to curcumin, maspin-knockdown cells showed lower expression levels of pro-apoptotic proteins, Bad and Bax, as compared with control cells. Conclusion: Maspin can enhance the sensitivity of HRPC cells to curcumin treatment.