Anti-cancer effects of ATRA and curcumin combination therapy in a glioblastoma cell line

Sönmez C., Baltacıoğlu A., Demirbolat G. M., Gök Özatay Ö., Özpınar A.

FEBS Open Bio, İstanbul, Türkiye, 5 Temmuz - 09 Eylül 2025, cilt.15, ss.305, (Özet Bildiri)

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
  • Cilt numarası: 15
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1002/2211-5463.700712
  • Basıldığı Şehir: İstanbul
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.305
  • Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor characterized

by high recurrence rates and poor prognosis due to therapy

resistance. Conventional treatments, including chemotherapy,

radiotherapy, and surgery, remain insufficient due to GBM’s

complex molecular profile and the acquisition of drug resistance

through various epigenetic and protein regulatory mechanisms.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a critical role in

GBM progression by enhancing cellular migration and

invasiveness, leading to metastasis and lower survival rates.

Recent studies suggest that targeting EMT and inflammatory

pathways may provide new therapeutic avenues. All-trans

retinoic acid (ATRA), a vitamin A metabolite, has been reported

to suppress EMT and induce apoptosis in various cancer types,

including breast, lung, and pancreatic cancers. Additionally,

curcumin, a polyphenolic compound derived from Curcuma

longa, is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer

properties, enhancing apoptosis while protecting normal tissues.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-cancer effects of

ATRA and curcumin combination therapy on GBM cell

viability, migration, and apoptosis. U87 glioblastoma cells were

treated with ATRA and curcumin alone and in combination at

several doses. Cell viability and migration were assessed using the

xCELLigence real-time system, while apoptosis was analyzed via

flow cytometry. Our results demonstrate a clear synergistic effect

of ATRA and curcumin, dose and time dependent. Interestingly,

cells treated with free doses showed initial proliferation within 24

hours, emphasizing the importance of dose optimization. These

findings suggest that ATRA and curcumin combination therapy

holds promise for overcoming GBM treatment limitations by

enhancing therapeutic efficiency and reducing drug resistance.

Further studies, including in vivo and clinical evaluations, are

necessary to confirm these effects and facilitate clinical research.