Not long ago, I came across some interesting information about curcumin and breast cancer, among other types of the disease, which was recommended to me by a friend. I thought it relevant to share the information that I found.

In recent years, studies have demonstrated that a spice used for many centuries in traditional Indian medicine could in fact be helpful. Researchers have discovered that one of the ingredients of Indian saffron, named curcumin, was able, in the laboratory, to treat the cells of skin and breast cancer, among others. Clinical studies involving the use of curcumin have in fact been launched and presently, scientists from the University of Texas’ Department of Medicine have discovered that curcumin blocks the activity of a gastrointestinal hormone that is involved in the development of colorectal cancer (second most deadly cancer). The work of Professor B. Mark Evers and his collaborators was published in one of the latest issues of Clinical Cancer Research, and it demonstrates that gastrointestinal hormone, neurotensine, which is generated in response to fat consumption, contributes to the production of IL-8, an inflammatory protein that accelerates the growth and dissemination of a variety of human cancer cells including colorectal and pancreatic tumour cells. According to the main author, the fact that this action can be completely stopped by this natural product, curcumin, is totally remarkable. The authors, including an associate researcher, Dr. Xiaofu Wang, studied the effects of curcumin. The effect of neurotensine depends on a biochemical signal inside the cells. Experiments have shown that circumin decreases these signals, thereby reducing the production of IL-8.

Experiments also showed that neurotensine increases cell migration, thereby most probably decreasing the colorectal cancer cells’ capacity metastasize to other part of the body. Also according to the authors, the results suggest that circumin may be helpful in the treatment of colorectal cancer whose cells respond to the gastrointestinal hormone. Close to one third of colorectal cancer cells have neurotensine receptors. The concept resembles what happens in breast and prostate cancer where the primary treatment involves blocking hormones.