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Inhibitory effect of curcumin onWT1 gene expression in patient leukemic cells

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Abstract

Leukemias are common worldwide. Wilms'tumor1 (WT1) protein is highly expressed in leukemic blast cells of myeloid and lymphoid origin. Thus, WT1 mRNA serves as a tumor marker for leukemias detection and monitoring disease progression. Curcumin is well known for its anticancer property. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of curcumin onWT1 gene expression in patient leukemic cells. The leukemic cells were collected from 70 childhood leukemia patients admitted at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand, in the period July 2003 to February 2005. There were 58 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 10 cases of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), and 2 cases of chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). There were 41 males and 29 females ranging from 1 to 15 years old. Leukemic cells were cultured in the presence or absence of 10 mM curcumin for 48 h. WT1 mRNA levels were determined by RT-PCR. The result showed that curcumin reducedWT1 gene expression in the cells from 35 patients (50%). It affected theWT1 gene expression in 4 of 8 relapsed cases (50%), 12 of 24 cases of drug maintenance (50%), 7 of 16 cases of complted treatment (44%), and 12 of 22 cases of new patients (54%). The basal expression leveles ofWT1 gene in leukemic patient cells as compared to that of K562 cells were classified as low level (1–20%) in 6 of 20 cases (30%), medium level (21–60%) in 12 of 21 cases (57%), and high level (61–100%) in 17 of 23 cases (74%). In summary, curcumin decreased WT1 mRNA in patient leukemic cells. Thus, curcumin treatment may provide a lead for clinical treatment in leukemic patients in the future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 50200, Chiang Mai, Thailand

    Pornngarm Limtrakul

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 50200, Chiang Mai, Thailand

    Pattra Thanarattanakorn & Somjai Sittipreechacharn

  3. Division of Clinical Microscopy, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, 50200, Chiang Mai, Thailand

    Songyot Anuchapreeda & Prasit Chanarat

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  1. Songyot Anuchapreeda
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  2. Pornngarm Limtrakul
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  3. Pattra Thanarattanakorn
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  4. Somjai Sittipreechacharn
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  5. Prasit Chanarat
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Correspondence to Songyot Anuchapreeda.

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Anuchapreeda, S., Limtrakul, P., Thanarattanakorn, P. et al. Inhibitory effect of curcumin onWT1 gene expression in patient leukemic cells. Arch Pharm Res 29, 80–87 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02977473

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02977473

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