Newsfeed 
FC InsiderNews
Submit news[release]
PT writers wanted
Sponsors' link
profood - food ingredients supplier
shopseek shop dir.
infoplus web dir.
|
|
|
Last Updated: Dec 27th, 2006 - 19:07:47 |
Curcumin stops breast cancer from spreading in mice
Curcumin, the major ingredient of turmeric and the compound that gives curry its mustard-yellow color, inhibits the spread of breast cancer to the lungs in mice, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of the journal Clinical Cancer Research.
The study, funded by the United States Department of Defense and conducted by researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer center, finds that curcumin seems to shut down a protein involved in the spread of breast cancer to other organs.
The study finds that curcumin, a nontoxic natural compound, not only prevents progression of the disease to the lungs, but also seems to be able to reverse the effects of paclitaxel or Taxol, a prescribed chemotherapy for breast cancer that, if used for too long, may actually trigger the spread of the disease.
Taxol is so toxic that it activates a protein that produces an inflammatory response, which induces the spread of the disease. Curcumin indirectly acts on the protein and stops the spreading of breast cancer.
Use of curcumin also enhances the effect of Taxol, making it possible a low dose can have the same efficacy.
"We are excited about the results of the study and the possible implications for taking the findings into the clinic in the next several years," said Bharat Aggarwal, Ph.D., professor of cancer medicine in M. D. Anderson's Department of Experimental Therapeutics. "At this time, advanced breast cancer is a difficult foe to fight with few proven treatments available after surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy."
Taxol is a major chemotherapeutic agent used to treat patients with breast cancers. But long-term use of the drug induces drug resistance and diminishes its effect against metastatic breast cancer, said Aggarwal.
In the study, 60 mice with breast cancer in four groups were randomly assigned either placebo, Taxol, curcumin, or the combination of Taxol and curcumin. Breast cancer was removed when it grew to a size of 10 mm.
Tumors were seen with naked eyes in 96 percent of the mice in the control group. Taxol alone moderately reduced the spread. Curcumin alone, and the combination of curcumin and Taxol significantly reduced the incidence and numbers of visible lung metastases.
Even when a microscope was used, metastases were seen in the lungs only 28 percent of the time in the group treated with the combination of curcumin and Taxol, and no metastases were seen in the group with naked eyes. Because only a few cells were spotted with a microscope, the combo likely inhibited the growth of breast cancer tumor cells that were in the lung before the breast cancer was removed.
In a previous study published in the Aug. issue of the journal Cancer, M.D. Anderson researchers found when a protein called nuclear factor-kapa B or NF-kB, which promotes the inflammatory response necessary to cause breast cancer to spread, was shut down, cancer cells were forced to commit suicide and cancer strains were unable to grow.
Researchers found curcumin acted indirectly to shut down NF-kB. Taxol activated the NF-kB in breast cancer cells, while curcumin stepped in and deactivated NF-kB by blocking a protein known as “IKK" that would otherwise turn on NF-kB, indicating Taxol and curcumin work against each other. Taxol produced the inflammatory response, triggering metastasis, while curcumin suppressed it, causing cell death.
The preventive effect of curcumin was presented by the same group of researchers in the fourth Era of Hope meeting for the Department of Defense (DOD) Breast Cancer Research Program held on June 8-11, 2005 in Philadelphia.
Researchers reported that 50 percent of the mice receiving curcumin only and 78 percent of the mice receiving both curcumin and Taxol stopped breast cancer from spreading to the lung.
They also reported that 5 percent of the mice not receiving any treatment, and 25 percent of the mice receiving only Taxol stopped the cancer from spreading to the lungs.
Use of turmeric, which is the major dietary source for curcumin, has been linked to a low risk of cancer. Previous studies have showed that people who eat diets full of turmeric are linked to lower rates of breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer, indicating that turmeric has a preventive effect against cancer.
Curcumin has been known to have potent irreversible anti-proliferative effects against a variety of cancer cells in vitro and chemo-preventive effects in murine carcinoma models. In the US, trial of curcumin in advanced pancreatic cancer is under way at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer center.
For another potential application, Columbia University researchers tested the effect of a diet with two percent of curcumin and found that use of the curcumin diet for six weeks significantly inhibits prostate cancer growth. Curcumin has the potential to prevent the progression of this cancer to its hormone refractory state.
Curries in which curcumin-loaded turmeric is a major ingredient are routinely used in Indian cuisine. Many attribute the low incidence rates of colorectal, prostate and lung cancers as well as coronary heart disease and Alzheimer's disease in India to the widespread use of curries.
Curcumin, extracted from the roots of the curcuma longa plant, is widely prescribed in Indian medicine as a potent remedy to treat a whole range of diseases including liver disorders, rheumatism, diabetic wounds, runny nose, cough and sinusitis.
Traditional Chinese medicine and ancient Hindu medicine also use curcumin to treat many diseases such as abdominal pain, sprains and swelling.
While curcumin is potent enough to prevent and treat many diseases, curcumin shows little toxicity in animal studies and human trials. Some researchers suggest that up to 10 grams of curcumin a day may be safe. However, high dosages do not always yield the best results. In certain cases, a low dose may work better.
Researchers caution that the current study is preliminary. Trials need to be performed to firm the preventive and therapeutic effects of curcumin in humans.
Invasive breast cancer strikes one in eight women in the U.S. during their life time, according to the American Cancer Society. 211,240 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 40,000 will die from the disease this year.
© 2004-2005 by foodconsumer.org unless otherwise specified
Top of Page
|
|
|
|