Curry ingredient could be used in fight against bowel cancer

TRIALS are under way into whether a curry ingredient can improve the treatment of patients with advanced bowel cancer.

Scientists will supplement standard chemotherapy with pills containing curcumin, a compound found in the yellow curry spice, turmeric.

Laboratory tests have suggested that curcumin can boost the ability of chemotherapy drugs to kill bowel cancer cells.

The compound is known to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties and also acts as an antioxidant.

It has traditionally been used as an alternative remedy for a wide range of problems including liver and digestive disorders, allergies and acne.

Some studies have indicated it may slow the spread of cancer, improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy and protect healthy cells from the effects of radiotherapy.

However, hard evidence from properly conducted scientific trials is lacking.

A two-year trial, conducted by scientists from Cancer Research UK and the University of Leicester, aims to recruit about 40 patients with bowel cancer that has spread to the liver.

Patients with advanced bowel cancer are normally given a treatment called Folfox which combines three chemotherapy drugs. But many – between 40 per cent and 60 per cent – do not respond to the therapy, and those who do may suffer side effects such as nerve pain.

Chief investigator Professor William Steward, director of the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre at the University of Leicester, said: “The prospect that curcumin might increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy is exciting because it could mean giving lower doses, so patients have fewer side effects and can keep having treatment for longer.”

Colin Carroll, a 62-year-old compliance consultant who lives near Loughborough, is one of the first patients to join the trial. He said: “The way I see it is that I’m being given the best possible chance, so in that sense I feel very fortunate.”

Dr Joanna Reynolds, Cancer Research UK’s director of centres, said: “By doing a clinical trial like this we will find out more about the potential benefits of taking large amounts of curcumin.”