Targeting Breast Stem Cells with Cancer Preventive Compounds Shows Promise

Researchers in the United States have identified two natural compounds, curcumin and piperine, which may have the potential to prevent breast cancer by inhibiting the self-renewal of breast stem cells. The study examined the effects of these compounds on mammosphere formation, expression of the breast stem cell marker aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and Wnt signaling in normal and malignant breast cells.

Key Takeaways:

• Curcumin and piperine inhibited mammosphere formation and serial passaging by 50% at 5 microM and completely at 10 microM concentration in normal and malignant breast cells.
• Both compounds inhibited Wnt signaling by 50% at 5 microM and completely at 10 microM.
• Curcumin and piperine separately, and in combination, inhibited breast stem cell self-renewal without causing toxicity to differentiated cells.
• Mammosphere formation assays may be a quantifiable biomarker to assess cancer preventive agent efficacy.
• Wnt signaling assessment can be a mechanistic biomarker for use in human clinical trials.
• Kakarala and colleagues suggested that these compounds could be potential cancer preventive agents.

Statistics:

• 50% inhibition of mammosphere formation and serial passaging at 5 microM concentration
• 100% inhibition of mammosphere formation and serial passaging at 10 microM concentration
• 50% inhibition of Wnt signaling at 5 microM concentration
• 100% inhibition of Wnt signaling at 10 microM concentration
• 5 microM and 10 microM concentration of curcumin and piperine used in the study

Sources:

• Kakarala, M., et al. (2010). Targeting breast stem cells with the cancer preventive compounds curcumin and piperine. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 122(3), 777-85.
• University of Michigan, Cancer Center.
• Springer, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA.