The anti-migratory effect of curcumin in colorectal cancer involves IKKβ/NF-κB/Snail-mediated EMT inhibition.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with distant organ metastasis accounting for the majority of fatal outcomes. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a central role in enabling tumor cells to acquire migratory and tissue-invasive competence. Within this context, the IκB kinase β (IKKβ)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)/Snail signaling cascade has emerged as a key regulatory hub orchestrating EMT-associated gene programs. Curcumin, a plant-derived polyphenolic compound, displays pleiotropic antitumor properties; however, the molecular basis of its capacity to restrain CRC cell motility requires further clarification. Methods: This investigation evaluated the migration-suppressive capacity of curcumin using HCT116 and SW620 CRC cell lines. Half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC Results: Following 48-h curcumin exposure, IC Conclusions: Collectively, these results indicate that curcumin curtails CRC cell migration, at least in part, through suppression of the IKKβ/NF-κB/Snail-driven EMT program, thereby providing a mechanistic rationale for its further preclinical and clinical evaluation as an adjunctive anti-metastatic approach in CRC.