Synergistic impact of autocrine motility factor and curcumin on colorectal cancer cell proliferation

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) presents a formidable challenge, characterized by a steadily increasing incidence. Current approaches to manage CRC, including chemotherapy and targeted therapies, are burdened with significant limitations such as resistance development, adverse events, and high costs. Hence, there is an urgent demand for a more promising alternative. Autocrine motility factor (AMF), known for its role in promoting cancer cell motility, exhibits a unique ability to selectively impede the growth of cancer cells. In our study, we have elucidated the specific inhibitory effect of AMF derived from DU145 prostate cancer cells (D-AMF) on the proliferation of CRC cells. D-AMF effectively downregulated the expression of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) at both the mRNA and protein levels, resulting in a concurrent increase in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Notably, the combination of D-AMF and curcumin proved highly effective in eliminating curcumin-resistant CRC cells. Therefore, the use of D-AMF in conjunction with curcumin holds promise as an alternative treatment approach for CRC.