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Supplement Strategy: Curcumin (Turmeric)

"These results have staggering implications for human use of curcumin as an
adjunctive breast cancer treatment."  -- Julius Goepp, MD






Recent studies have revealed that cucumin, extracted from turmeric root, is a key
anti-inflammatory spice to fight cancer.

Curcumin Reduces Number of Lung Metastases + Makes Taxol Less Toxic

UPDATE:  In 2005,  Curcumin made world-wide news when researcher,  Dr. Bharat
Aggarwal and his team at M.D. Anderson,  published new findings on the spice.
When mice with breast cancer were given curcumin alone, taxol (a
chemotherapeutic agent) alone, curcumin and taxol, or nothing at all, the two
curcumin groups had the fewest number of metastases to the lungs. Taxol, like
many chemotherapeutic agents, provokes an inflammatory response, which leads to
drug resistance. But curcumin inhibited taxol's inflammatory response by blocking
nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) which regulates inflammation, cell proliferation,
and apoptosis (cell death). (1)

Acting through The Genes

  • Significance of Shutting Down NF-Kappa B, the "Smoke-Sensor"

    In a 2006 study, curcumin suppressed the tumor necrosis factor (TNF), from
    activating NF-kappa B.  By inhibiting TNF-induced NF-kappa B activation,
    curcumin down-regulated (reduced the expression of) genes that regulate
    every stage of cancer development. These stages include:  Cell proliferation,
    apoptosis, and malignancy. (3)

Acting on Cell Proliferation                           

  • By curcumin's inactivating NF-kappa B, genes involved in                                    
    cell proliferation, such as COX-2, cyclin D1, and c-myc, are inhibited.
    This means that curcumin suppresses production of proteins needed
    for uncontrolled growth and proliferation, inflammation and inhibition of PGE-
    2. (4)

Restoring Apoptosis (Cell Death)

  • Curcumin also helps to restore normal programmed cell death. In the
    Aggarwal study above,  taxol induced NF-kappa B activation led to cell
    immortality, reducing the drug's ability to kill cancer cells. (5) Drug resistance
    is a huge problem.  Curcumin can help to make chemotherapeutic agents
    more effective.

Metastasis:     

  • By curcumin's inactivating NF-kappa B, genes promoting metastasis,
    such as vascular endothelial growth factor, adhesion molecules, and
    matrix proteins, are inhibited.

    In the taxol study above, the mice with breast cancer fed curcumin or
    curcumin with taxol had fewer metastases to the lungs than mice fed no
    curcumin or on taxol alone.(6)

"Cucumin has been found to suppress, retard, and even reverse cancer
development at each stage of the disease."   

--from Duvoix, A et al., Chemopreventive and Therapeutic Effects of Curcumin,
Cancer Lett 2005

According to the Life Extension Foundation, curcumin's action goes further, "
inhibiting the epidermal growth factor receptor and is up to 90% effective in a dose-
dependent manner. It is important to note that while curcumin has been shown to be
up to 90% effective in inhibiting the expression of the epidermal growth factor
receptor on cancer cell membranes, this does not mean it will be effective in 90% of
cancer patients or reduce tumor volume by 90%. However, because two-thirds of all
cancers overexpress the epidermal growth factor receptor and such overexpression
frequently fuels the metastatic spread of the cancer throughout the body,
suppression of this receptor is desirable."

Dosage: March 2006 e-mail communication with turmeric researcher, Dr.
B. Aggarwal: "Until clinical trials are completed, I suggest taking 500 mg.
of curcumin a day if you do not have cancer and higher if you have/had.  
The dose can be determined by self-tolerance."

The Life Extension Foundation suggests a recommended dose of four
    900-mg capsules 3 times per day, preferably with food.  

References
1.   Aggarwal BB  et al., Curcumin Suppresses the Paclitaxol-Induced Nuclear Factor-
kB Pathway in Breast Cancer Cells and Inhibits Lung Metastasis of Human Breast
Cancer in Nude Mice, Clinical Cancer Research 2005.
2.  Ahn KS et al., Transcription Factor NF-kappa B: A Sensor for Smoke and Stress
Signals, Ann NY Acad Sci 2005.
3. Aggarwal S et al., Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) Down-Regulates Expression of
Cell Proliferation and Antiapoptotic and Metastatic Gene Products Through
Suppression of I Kappa Balpha and AKT Activation, Mol Pharmacol 2006
4. Lev-Ari S et al., Down-Regulation of Prostaglandin E 2 by Curcumin is Correlated
with Inhibition of Cell Growth and Decline in Apoptosis in Human Colon Carcinoma
Cell Line, J soc Integ Oncol 2006.
5. Aggarwal BB et al., Cucumin Suppress the Paclitaxol-Induced Nuclear Factor-kB
Pathwayin Breast Cancer Cells and Inhibits Lung Metastasis of Human Breast
Cancer in Nude Mice, Clinical Cancer Research 2005
6. Aggarwal BB et al., IBID.

These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug
Administration.  The supplements discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat,
cure, or prevent any disease.

This website is intended as information only. The editors of this site are not medically-trained.
Please consult your licensed health care practitioner before implementing any health strategy.
The information provided on this site is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that
exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her existing physician. This site accepts no
advertising. The contents of this site are copyrighted 2006 by Breast Cancer Choices, Inc.
Contact us for reprint permission. Web page updated January 7, 2008.
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