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 mu mol/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.