Curcumin Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Progression via Down-Regulation of miR-21-5p

In this study, we investigated the role of curcumin in pancreatic cancer through the regulation of miR-21-5p. We first evaluated the expression of miR-21-5p in pancreatic cancer cells (ASPC-1) treated with different concentrations of curcumin. The results showed that curcumin effectively inhibited the expression of miR-21-5p in ASPC-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. B cell translocation gene 2 was identified as a target gene of miR-21-5p. MiR-21-5p mimics could promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of ASPC-1, as well as decrease the expression of B cell translocation gene 2. Curcumin treatment inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion of ASPC-1, as well as increased the expression of B cell translocation gene 2. MiR-21-5p could reverse the inhibitory activities of curcumin on ASPC-1 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In conclusion, curcumin is capable of inhibiting the proliferation, migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells via down-regulating miR-21-5p-mediated B cell translocation gene 2.