In vitro and in vivo effects of curcumina in acute myeloid leukemia

• Grant number: 18/02619-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2018
• End date: October 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Sara Teresinha Olalla Saad
• Grantee: Henriquy Aguiar Coelho
• Host Institution: Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia (HEMOCENTRO). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by presence of 20% or more blasts at blood or bone marrow, interfering negatively in the production of the other blood cells with consequent anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. The AML treatment involves aggressive chemotherapy with survival bigger than five years. On the other hand, the survival is 40% lower than those subjected to the bone marrow transplant. However, a great number of patients are not eligible to this therapy, because of the old age or comorbidities. In these cases, the survival is lower than 6 months in 80% of the cases. The curcumin, natural compound extracted of Curcuma longa, is commonly used as phytotherapeutic compound. Furthermore, researches have proved that this compound acts directly in apoptosis mechanism, characterizing as a powerful antineoplasic. About this mechanism, there are intracellular accumulation of ceramide, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibition of BCL-2 protein. Additionally, curcumin has demonstrated success in inhibition of breast and colorectal cancers, as well as methylation and acethylation of genes by epigenetics changes. Therefore, the objective of this project is evaluate the effect of curcumin in the treatment of AML animals models. Measurements of ROS, intracellular ceramide, apoptosis investigation, autophagy, cellular cycle and epigenetics changes will be investigated.