Curcumin and Prostate Cancer
Curry Powder (Curcumin) Increases Prostate Cancer Treatment Effects
Wednesday March 21, 2007
Curcumin, an extract of the turmeric root has been shown in several studies to have an ability to treat or
prevent prostate and other cancers, Alzheimer's disease, and multiple sclerosis-- however the molecular
mechanism for its anti-cancer effect has been unknown-- until now.
According to research published in the journal Cancer Research, scientists at the Comprehensive Cancer
Center at the University of Alabama have now described how curcumin can fight cancer.
Using human prostate cancer cell lines in vitro, introduction of curcumin decreased mRNA and protein
expression of MDM2 (an oncoprotein). It also increased the expression of the tumor modulator p21. This
caused a decrease in cell multiplication (proliferation), and increased cell apoptosis.
Mice were also tested by grafting them with prostate cancer cells and dividing them into groups: 1) given
curcumin orally five days/wk for four weeks; 2) curcumin and gemcitabine (a chemotheraputic agent); 3)
gemcitabine alone; 4) curcumin and radiation; 5) radiation alone; 6) cotton seed oil (control group).
At the end of the study, the endpoint measurement was tumor mass. All groups with curcumin reflected
tumor growth inhibition, and appeared to enhance the effects of both radiation and gemcitabine therapy.
Analysis:
This was a well designed and performed study which demonstrates and provides a mechanistic explanation
of curcumin's anti-cancer effects.
The next steps would be studying the use of curcumin as a dietary supplement in combination with radiation
and chemotherapy in humans with tumors dependent on this MDM2 pathway. This could be exciting news
about a way to bolster treatments that we already have.
Wednesday March 21, 2007
Curcumin, an extract of the turmeric root has been shown in several studies to have an ability to treat or
prevent prostate and other cancers, Alzheimer's disease, and multiple sclerosis-- however the molecular
mechanism for its anti-cancer effect has been unknown-- until now.
According to research published in the journal Cancer Research, scientists at the Comprehensive Cancer
Center at the University of Alabama have now described how curcumin can fight cancer.
Using human prostate cancer cell lines in vitro, introduction of curcumin decreased mRNA and protein
expression of MDM2 (an oncoprotein). It also increased the expression of the tumor modulator p21. This
caused a decrease in cell multiplication (proliferation), and increased cell apoptosis.
Mice were also tested by grafting them with prostate cancer cells and dividing them into groups: 1) given
curcumin orally five days/wk for four weeks; 2) curcumin and gemcitabine (a chemotheraputic agent); 3)
gemcitabine alone; 4) curcumin and radiation; 5) radiation alone; 6) cotton seed oil (control group).
At the end of the study, the endpoint measurement was tumor mass. All groups with curcumin reflected
tumor growth inhibition, and appeared to enhance the effects of both radiation and gemcitabine therapy.
Analysis:
This was a well designed and performed study which demonstrates and provides a mechanistic explanation
of curcumin's anti-cancer effects.
The next steps would be studying the use of curcumin as a dietary supplement in combination with radiation
and chemotherapy in humans with tumors dependent on this MDM2 pathway. This could be exciting news
about a way to bolster treatments that we already have.
Take
Curcumin
Now!
Dont be Late,
Save your
Prostate.
Curcumin
Now!
Dont be Late,
Save your
Prostate.