Anti-Lung Cancer Activities of 1,2,3-Triazole Curcumin Derivatives via Regulation of the MAPK/NF-kappa B/STAT3 Signaling Pathways

In this study, a series of curcumin derivatives containing 1,2,3-triazole were designed and synthesized, and their inhibitory activities against the proliferation of lung cancer cells were studied. Compound 5 k (3,4-dichlorobenzyltriazole methyl curcumin) had the best activity against A549 cells, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 2.27 mu M, which was approximately 10 times higher than that of the lead curcumin and higher than that of gefitinib (IC50=8.64 mu M). Western blotting revealed that 5 k increased the phosphorylation levels of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Compound 5 k also promoted the expression of the inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B (I kappa B alpha) and decreased that of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and beta-catenin. Therefore, 5 k suppresses A549 cell proliferation by activating the mitogen-activated protein kinases and suppressing NF-kappa B/STAT3 signaling pathways. So, 5 k can potentially be used for treating non-small cell lung cancer.