Calebin A Potentiates the Effect of 5-FU and TNF-β (Lymphotoxin α) against Human Colorectal Cancer Cells: Potential Role of NF-κB

Objective: The majority of chemotherapeutic agents stimulate NF-kappa B signaling that mediates cell survival, proliferation and metastasis. The natural turmeric non-curcuminoid derivate Calebin A has been shown to suppress cell growth, invasion and colony formation in colorectal cancer cells (CRC) by suppression of NF-kappa B signaling. Therefore, we hypothesized here that Calebin A might chemosensitize the TNF-beta-treated tumor cells and potentiates the effect of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) in advanced CRC. Materials and Methods: CRC cells (HCT116) and their clonogenic 5-FU chemoresistant counterparts (HCT116R) were cultured in monolayer or alginate-based 3D tumor environment culture and were treated with/without Calebin A, TNF-beta, 5-FU, BMS-345541 and DTT (dithiothreitol). Results: The results showed that TNF-beta increased proliferation, invasion and resistance to apoptosis in chemoresistant CRC cells. Pretreatment with Calebin A significantly chemosensitized HCT116R to 5-FU and inhibited the TNF-beta-induced enhanced efforts for survival, invasion and anti-apoptotic effects. We found further that Calebin A significantly suppressed TNF-beta-induced phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of p65-NF-kappa B, similar to BMS-345541 (specific IKK inhibitor) and NF-kappa B-induced tumor-promoting biomarkers (NF-kappa B, beta 1-Integrin, MMP-9, CXCR4, Ki67). This was associated with increased apoptosis in HCT116 and HCT116R cells. Furthermore, blocking of p65-NF-kappa B stimulation by Calebin A was imparted through the downmodulation of p65-NF-kappa B binding to the DNA and this suppression was turned by DTT. Conclusion: Our findings indicate, for the first time, that Calebin A chemosensitizes human CRC cells to chemotherapy by targeting of the p65-NF-kappa B signaling pathway.