Curcumin induces G2/M arrest and triggers autophagy, ROS generation and cell senescence in cervical cancer cells.

Our study explored the tumor-suppressive effect of curcumin on cervical cancer cells. Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide. Acquired resistance to chemotherapeutics and toxicity of such drugs has undermined the effectiveness of cervical cancer treatments. Therefore, the identification of novel chemotherapeutics is key to improving the survival of patients with cervical cancer. Curcumin has been shown to have various bioactivities, including antioxidant and antitumor effects; however, its effect on cervical cancer remains elusive. Here, we used the SiHa human cervical cancer cell line to test various concentrations of curcumin on the proliferation and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells. The involvement of autophagy and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in these effects were also tested by using specific autophagy inhibitors and ROS scavengers. Our results showed that curcumin induced ROS accumulation, apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle arrest, and cellular senescence accompanied by upregulation of p53 and p21 proteins in SiHa cells.