Ruthenium-enhanced curcumin derivatives target tumor growth and cancer-related inflammation in head and neck cancer models.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Head and neck cancers (HNC) remain a significant clinical challenge, particularly due to their association with chronic inflammation triggered by tobacco carcinogens and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Persistent activation of proinflammatory and proangiogenic pathways, including nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 8 (IL-8), plays a crucial role in tumor progression.

Methods

In this study, we synthetized ruthenium-enhanced curcumin derivatives (complexes 3 and 4) and study their anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties by using HNC cell lines.

Results

Complex 3 demonstrated potent cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects across both HPV-negative and HPV- positive HNC cell lines, while complex 4 showed selectivity

SUBMITTER: Vesela K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12754617 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature