The results of this study intended to clarify the apoptotic effects of curcumin on Epstein-Barr virus transformed human B lymphoma (EBV-B) cells are summarized as follows: It was found that curcumin induced endoplasmic reticulum(ER) stress as well as apoptotic cell death in EBV-B cells, although the magnitude of action was insignificant. When EBV-B cells activated by pokeweed mitogen (PWM) were treated with the same concentrations of curcumin, it was found that higher ER stress (GRP78, P-PERK, XBP-1, ATF6, and CHOP expressed) increased unfold protein response (UPR) and thus, apoptosis attributed to ER stress, compared to non-activated EBV-B cells In conclusion, it is expected that curcumin will play an important role for leukemia treatment.