Effects of curcumin on bleomycin‑induced oxidative stress in malignant testicular germ cell tumors

Mol Med Rep. 2012 Oct;6(4):860-6. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2012.991. Epub 2012 Jul 17.

Abstract

Bleomycin is commonly used in the treatment of testicular cancer. Bleomycin generates oxygen radicals, induces the oxidative cleavage of DNA strands and induces cancer cell apoptosis. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a potent antioxidant and chief component of the spice turmeric. No study investigating the effects of curcumin on intrinsic and bleomycin-induced oxidative stress in testicular germ cell tumors has been reported in the literature. For this reason, the present study aimed to examine the effects of curcumin on oxidative stress produced in wild-type NTera-2 and p53-mutant NCCIT testicular cancer cells incubated with bleomycin and the results were compared with cells treated with H2O2 which directly produces oxidative stress. The protein carbonyl content, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), glutathione (GSH), 8-isoprostane, lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) levels and total antioxidant capacity in the two testicular cancer cell lines were determined. Results showed that bleomycin and H2O2 significantly increased protein carbonyl, TBARS, 8-isoprostane and LPO levels in the NTera-2 and NCCIT cell lines. Bleomycin and H2O2 significantly decreased the antioxidant capacity and GSH levels in NTera-2 cells. Curcumin significantly decreased LPO, 8-isoprostane and protein carbonyl content, and TBARS levels increased in cells treated with bleomycin and H2O2. Curcumin enhanced GSH levels and the antioxidant capacity of NTera-2 cells. In conclusion, curcumin inhibits bleomycin and H2O2-induced oxidative stress in human testicular cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / pharmacology*
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Bleomycin / pharmacology*
  • Bleomycin / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Curcumin / pharmacology*
  • Dinoprost / analogs & derivatives
  • Dinoprost / metabolism
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / toxicity
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Male
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / metabolism
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / pathology
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Protein Carbonylation / drug effects
  • Testicular Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Testicular Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Testicular Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Antioxidants
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
  • Bleomycin
  • 8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha
  • Dinoprost
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Glutathione
  • Curcumin