BE55 - The Effects of Turmeric on Chemo-resistant Colorectal Cell Lines (DLD1 and HCT-116)
SCURS Disciplines
Cell Biology
Document Type
General Poster
Invited Presentation Choice
Service-Learning — Oral
Abstract
The Effects of Turmeric on Chemo-resistant Colorectal Cell Lines (DLD1 and HCT-116)
Introduction:
Colorectal cancer is a common form of cancer; cases typically present in individuals over age 50, with incidence rising in younger generations. Common treatment options post-diagnosis often include traditional chemotherapies. However, a difficulty found in many patients includes the development of multidrug resistance or MDR, negatively impacting the prognosis for many patients. Literature suggests that P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an ATP regulated transporter coded by the ABCB1 gene, can effectively cause MDR through its overexpression and pose a large barrier in the success rates of conventional chemotherapies. One potential reversal method to MDR exists within the curcumin extract, a compound derived from the turmeric plant. Previous studies have indicated the anti-inflammatory effects found within the compound, and have been applied to cancer cells and in-situ models in an endeavor to modulate P-gp expression. As such, this study aims to characterize the ability of curcumin to reverse chemoresistance in colorectal cancer cell lines using an MTS cell viability assay.
Objective/Hypothesis:
To evaluate whether curcumin can restore chemosensitivity in chemo-resistant colorectal cancer cell lines (DLD1, HCT-116) by assessing the dose-dependent (1μg/mL - 1000μg/mL) effects of curcumin as a potential therapeutic agent. We hypothesize that treatment with curcumin will restore chemosensitivity in chemo-resistant colorectal cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner, such that higher concentrations of curcumin will result in greater chemosensitivity.
Methods:
Two colorectal cancer cell lines (DLD1, HCT-116) were grown in their respective media. Both cell lines were plated into two 96 well plates with 1 x 10^3 cells per well (1 x 10^4 cells/mL). Hydrogen peroxide served as the positive control for its apoptotic abilities in chemoresistant cancer cells, and untreated cells served as the negative control. Remaining cells were treated with varying concentrations (1μg/mL - 1000μg/mL) of curcumin extract. Treated cells were incubated for 48 hours after treatment. An MTS assay was then performed to analyze cell viability.
Results:
MTS Assay demonstrated a change in the absorbance of each cell line in conjunction with the dosage of curcumin extract added to the cells. Chemoresistance analyses are currently underway, and complete statistical results will be presented upon conclusion of data analysis.
Conclusions:
Preliminary qualitative analysis of treatments demonstrate observable changes in cell viability following treatment, though statistical significance has not yet been determined. Future work includes t-test statistical analysis and further investigation of the mechanisms contributing to curcumin’s effect on MDR.
References
Lopes-Rodrigues, V., Sousa, E., & Vasconcelos, M. (2016). Curcumin as a Modulator of P-Glycoprotein in Cancer: Challenges and Perspectives. Pharmaceuticals, 9(4), 71. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph9040071
Neerati, P., Sudhakar, Y. A., & Kanwar, J. R. (2013). Curcumin Regulates Colon Cancer by Inhibiting P-Glycoprotein in In-situ Cancerous Colon Perfusion Rat Model. Journal of cancer science & therapy, 5, 313–319.
Talib, W. H., Alsayed, A. R., Barakat, M., Abu-Taha, M. I., & Mahmod, A. I. (2021). Targeting Drug Chemo-Resistance in Cancer Using Natural Products. Biomedicines, 9(10), 1353. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9101353
Zoi, V., Galani, V., Lianos, G. D., Voulgaris, S., Kyritsis, A. P., & Alexiou, G. A. (2021). The Role of Curcumin in Cancer Treatment. Biomedicines, 9(9), 1086. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9091086
Keywords
MTS Assay, Trypan Blue Exclusion Assay, Cell viability, Chemo-resistance, Colorectal Cancer, Curcumin, Turmeric
Start Date
10-4-2026 9:30 AM
Location
University Readiness Center Greatroom
End Date
10-4-2026 11:30 AM
BE55 - The Effects of Turmeric on Chemo-resistant Colorectal Cell Lines (DLD1 and HCT-116)
University Readiness Center Greatroom
The Effects of Turmeric on Chemo-resistant Colorectal Cell Lines (DLD1 and HCT-116)
Introduction:
Colorectal cancer is a common form of cancer; cases typically present in individuals over age 50, with incidence rising in younger generations. Common treatment options post-diagnosis often include traditional chemotherapies. However, a difficulty found in many patients includes the development of multidrug resistance or MDR, negatively impacting the prognosis for many patients. Literature suggests that P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an ATP regulated transporter coded by the ABCB1 gene, can effectively cause MDR through its overexpression and pose a large barrier in the success rates of conventional chemotherapies. One potential reversal method to MDR exists within the curcumin extract, a compound derived from the turmeric plant. Previous studies have indicated the anti-inflammatory effects found within the compound, and have been applied to cancer cells and in-situ models in an endeavor to modulate P-gp expression. As such, this study aims to characterize the ability of curcumin to reverse chemoresistance in colorectal cancer cell lines using an MTS cell viability assay.
Objective/Hypothesis:
To evaluate whether curcumin can restore chemosensitivity in chemo-resistant colorectal cancer cell lines (DLD1, HCT-116) by assessing the dose-dependent (1μg/mL - 1000μg/mL) effects of curcumin as a potential therapeutic agent. We hypothesize that treatment with curcumin will restore chemosensitivity in chemo-resistant colorectal cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner, such that higher concentrations of curcumin will result in greater chemosensitivity.
Methods:
Two colorectal cancer cell lines (DLD1, HCT-116) were grown in their respective media. Both cell lines were plated into two 96 well plates with 1 x 10^3 cells per well (1 x 10^4 cells/mL). Hydrogen peroxide served as the positive control for its apoptotic abilities in chemoresistant cancer cells, and untreated cells served as the negative control. Remaining cells were treated with varying concentrations (1μg/mL - 1000μg/mL) of curcumin extract. Treated cells were incubated for 48 hours after treatment. An MTS assay was then performed to analyze cell viability.
Results:
MTS Assay demonstrated a change in the absorbance of each cell line in conjunction with the dosage of curcumin extract added to the cells. Chemoresistance analyses are currently underway, and complete statistical results will be presented upon conclusion of data analysis.
Conclusions:
Preliminary qualitative analysis of treatments demonstrate observable changes in cell viability following treatment, though statistical significance has not yet been determined. Future work includes t-test statistical analysis and further investigation of the mechanisms contributing to curcumin’s effect on MDR.
References
Lopes-Rodrigues, V., Sousa, E., & Vasconcelos, M. (2016). Curcumin as a Modulator of P-Glycoprotein in Cancer: Challenges and Perspectives. Pharmaceuticals, 9(4), 71. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph9040071
Neerati, P., Sudhakar, Y. A., & Kanwar, J. R. (2013). Curcumin Regulates Colon Cancer by Inhibiting P-Glycoprotein in In-situ Cancerous Colon Perfusion Rat Model. Journal of cancer science & therapy, 5, 313–319.
Talib, W. H., Alsayed, A. R., Barakat, M., Abu-Taha, M. I., & Mahmod, A. I. (2021). Targeting Drug Chemo-Resistance in Cancer Using Natural Products. Biomedicines, 9(10), 1353. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9101353
Zoi, V., Galani, V., Lianos, G. D., Voulgaris, S., Kyritsis, A. P., & Alexiou, G. A. (2021). The Role of Curcumin in Cancer Treatment. Biomedicines, 9(9), 1086. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9091086