A. MLH1-deficient (HCT116+ch2, RKO), MSH2-deficient (Hec59) and matched MLH1-proficient (HCT116+ch3, RKO+MLH1+), MSH2–proficient (Hec59+ch2) cells were either mock (DMSO) treated or exposed to curcumin (Curc; 30 μM) and cell viability was assessed 48 h later by Trypan Blue exclusion. B. Cell lines outlined in panel A were treated with 0, 5, 10 and 20 μM of curcumin and viability was measured by MTT assay. C. Indicated cell lines were exposed to various doses of curcumin (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 μM), colonies counted 14 days after drug, and subsequently plotted against curcumin concentration. Each point represents the mean value obtained from at least three independent experiments, error bars = 1 SD.