Curcumin inhibits proliferation and invasion of papillary thyroid carcinoma cells by inhibiting the JAK2 / STAT3 pathway.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the function of curcumin to suppress the proliferative and invasive abilities of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) through inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. METHODS: After treatment of different doses of curcumin in TPC-1 and SW1736 cells, changes in viability, clonality, cell cycle, apoptosis, wound healing and invasion were determined. Western blot analyses were performed to detect protein levels of apoptosis-associated genes, JAK2 and STAT3 in TPC-1 and SW1736 cells treated with different doses of curcumin. RESULTS: Curcumin treatment dose-dependently reduced viability, clonality and metastatic ability in TPC-1 and SW1736 cells. After treatment of 10 μM or 20 μM curcumin, PTC cells were blocked in G2/M phase, and their apoptotic rate increased. Curcumin treatment downregulated Bcl-2 and upregulated Bax in PTC cells. In addition, curcumin treatment downregulated p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 in TPC-1 and SW1736 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin treatment blocks PTC cells to proliferate and invade via inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.