Turmeric Component Inhibits Cancer Growth 37557

Turmeric Component Inhibits Cancer Growth

LOS ANGELES--Researchers determined that curcumin triggers cell deathin head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in a dose-dependent fashion,according to a study published in the October issue of Clinical CancerResearch http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/(11, 19:6994-7002, 2005).

Researchers found HNSCC cell lines CCL 23, CAL 27 and UM-SCC1 treated withcurcumin resulted in dose-dependent growth inhibition of all three cell lines.In vivo growth studies were conducted using nude mice xenograft tumors, in whichcurcumin was applied as a noninvasive topical paste to the tumors. Inhibition oftumor growth was observed in xenografts from the CAL27 cell line.

Researchers concluded curcumin treatment resulted in suppression of HNSCCgrowth both in vitro and in vivo. "Our data support further investigationinto the potential use for curcumin as an adjuvant or chemopreventive agent inhead and neck cancer," the study authors wrote.