Cur inhibits tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. (A) Representative picture showing tumors from subcutaneous tumor-bearing nude mice of SW480/NC or SW480/NNMT, groups which were treated with 5-FU and/or Cur. (B) Tumor proliferation curves calculated by tumor volume from day 10 to day 31. (C) Tumor weight of different groups displayed as a scatter diagram. (D) Cell apoptosis of tumor sections detected by TUNEL staining (×100). (E) Cell apoptosis rate calculated from TUNEL staining displayed as a histogram. The SW480/NC group treated with 5-FU was set as the control group and was set as 1. (F) Schematic illustration of Cur in the regulation of NNMT and chemo-sensitivity in CRC cells. Cur downregulates NNMT and p-STAT3 and enhances sensitivity to 5-FU via ROS-induced cell cycle arrest in CRC cells. 5-FU: 5-Fluorouracil, Cur: curcumin. Data are expressed as means ± SD, n = 3, * p < 0.05, *** p < 0.001.