Publication Date
2026
Presentation Length
15 minutes
College
College of Sciences & Mathematics
Department
Biology, Department of
Student Level
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor
Andrea Florian
Presentation Type
Talk/Oral
Summary
Osteosarcoma (OS) is a highly aggressive bone cancer characterized by rapid metastasis, which drastically reduces patient survival rates from 70% in localized cases to 30% upon metastasis. Current treatments combining chemotherapy with cisplatin and surgical intervention are often ineffective against metastatic OS and are associated with significant side effects. Cisplatin targets cancer cells by binding to DNA, disrupting transcription and replication, and inducing apoptosis. To address the challenges associated with current treatments, this study investigates the potential of combining cisplatin with curcumin, the bioactive compound derived from turmeric, as a novel therapeutic approach. Curcumin has shown anticancer properties by inducing oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and increased reactive oxygen species, leading to cell death. We treated OS cells with cisplatin and curcumin, both individually and in combination, to assess their effects on cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Our results demonstrate that the combination therapy significantly reduces cell viability compared with either agent alone, while potentially mitigating the adverse effects associated with traditional chemotherapy. These findings suggest that the synergistic effects of cisplatin and curcumin offer a promising new therapeutic strategy for improving outcomes in patients with OS.
Recommended Citation
Stafford, Ellis; Cabral, Alexa; Florian, Andrea Ph.D.; and Nagy, Reese, "Exploring the Synergistic Effects of Cisplatin and Curcumin in Osteosarcoma Cells" (2026). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 1013.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/1013
Included in
Biology Commons, Cancer Biology Commons, Cell Biology Commons
