Breast Cancer ChoicesTM  
                                                                                            .
Scrutinizing the evidence for breast
cancer procedures and treatments
Supplement Strategies - Curcumin
These results have staggering
implications for human use of
curcumin as an adjunctive breast
cancer treatment.
-- Julius Goepp, MD

By blocking the activity of this
“master switch,” curcumin
appears to interfere with the
cancer process at an early point,
impeding multiple routes of
development: reducing the
inflammatory response, inhibiting
the proliferation of tumor cells,
inducing their self-destruction,
and discouraging the growth of
blood vessels feeding tumors. --

MD Anderson Cancer Center
OncoLog September 2007
/
reverse cancer development at each stage of the disease.  

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


    Curcumin Reduces Number of Lung Metastases + Makes

















    1. Acting through The Genes

    In a 2006 study, curcumin suppressed the tumor necrosis factor (TNF),
    down-regulating genes that control every stage of cancer development.
    These stages include:  Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and malignancy. (3)

    2. Acting on Cell Proliferation               
                
    Curcumin suppresses production of
     proteins needed for uncontrolled growth
    and proliferation, inflammation and inhibition
    of PGE-2. (4) Curcumin inactivates NF-kappa B,
    genes involved in  cell proliferation, such as COX-2, cyclin D1, and c-myc.

    3. Restoring Apoptosis (Cell Death)

    Curcumin also helps to restore normal programmed cell death. In the
    Aggarwal study,  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.  But Curcumin can help to make chemotherapeutic agents more
    effective.

    4. Taxol Less Toxic

    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 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)

    5.  Metastasis:     

    In the Taxol study, 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)

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


    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."
Please Note
****
Curcumin alone is not
well-absorbed. The Life
Extension Foundation and
other companies combine
curcumin with a black pepper
product to significantly enhance
absorption.









Curcumin dosage has not been
determined and is in the
process of being patented by
drug companies in novel
bioavailable forms.

    1.   Aggarwal BB  et al., Curcumin Suppresses the Paclitaxol-Induced Nuclear Factor-kB
    Pathway in Breast Cancer Cells and Inhibits Lung Metastasis of
    2.  Ahn KS et al., Transcription Factor NF-kappa B: A Sensor for Smoke and Stress Signals,
    Ann NY Acad Sci 2005.
    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., 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.


    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 2004-2015 by Breast Cancer Choices,
    Inc., a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization run entirely by unpaid volunteers.
    Contact us with comments or for reprint permission at admin@breastcancerchoices.org

Want to chat with fellow patients?











Join our online email discussion
group
Click here.
.
.
Home    FAQ    Strategies    Discussion    Iodine   Hormones    Contact    Store