Curcumin Kills Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells in Culture
Posted Jan 29 2010 6:55am
Curcumin is a natural component of the spice turmeric that is responsible for the spice's yellow pigment. Previous research in cell culture systems and animals has suggested that curcumin might have a variety of anti-cancer properties. In facta recent paper reported that the combination of curcumin and piperinean active chemical from black peppermight inhibit the self-renewal of breast cancer stem cells.
A new research study suggests that curcumin might also have cancer fighting benefits for individuals with triple negative breast cancer. Triple negative breast cancer is a specific type of breast cancer that is defined as lacking in estrogen receptorsprogesterone receptors and HER2 receptors. Triple negative breast cancer is typically considered to be more aggressive and presents as a higher grade of breast cancer.
In this new studybreast cancer researchers treated triple negative breast cancer cells with different amounts of curcumin in a cell culture system. Curcumin was shown to have a number of cancer fighting properties in this system
Curcumin induced DNA damage in triple negative breast cancer cells
Treatment with curcumin caused a localization of BRCA1 such that it was unable to repair the DNA damage.
Curcumin induced the death of triple negative breast cancer cells within 72 hourswhile having minimal effect on non-cancerous breast cells.
While both triple negative breast cancer cells and hormone-positive breast cancer cells were susceptible to curcumin treatmenttriple negative breast cancer cells were more sensitive.
Curcumin suppressed the ability of triple negative breast cells to grow independently and to migrate.
This new research shows exciting promise for curcumin as a triple negative breast cancer fighting agent. Because triple negative breast cancer is not responsive to hormonal therapiesthe standard treatment typically involves chemotherapy and radiation. While research suggests that this type of breast cancer responds well to chemotherapyit has also been reported that triple negative breast cancer generally has poorer outcomes compared to other types of breast cancer. Any new developments in treatment options for this type of breast cancer are an important step in the fight against breast cancer. While curcumin certainly shows promise as a cancer fighting agentstudies in clinical trials will need to be conducted to determine if the positive benefits seen in cell culture systems translate to benefits in breast cancer patients. You can learn more about triple negative breast cancer at BreastCancer.org or by downloading the free Guide to Understanding Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.
Read more about what steps you can take to proactively reduce breast cancer risk in my book Fight Now: Eat & Live Proactively Against Breast Cancer (www.fightBCnow.com).
A new research study suggests that curcumin might also have cancer fighting benefits for individuals with triple negative breast cancer. Triple negative breast cancer is a specific type of breast cancer that is defined as lacking in estrogen receptorsprogesterone receptors and HER2 receptors. Triple negative breast cancer is typically considered to be more aggressive and presents as a higher grade of breast cancer.
In this new studybreast cancer researchers treated triple negative breast cancer cells with different amounts of curcumin in a cell culture system. Curcumin was shown to have a number of cancer fighting properties in this system
- Curcumin induced DNA damage in triple negative breast cancer cells
- Treatment with curcumin caused a localization of BRCA1 such that it was unable to repair the DNA damage.
- Curcumin induced the death of triple negative breast cancer cells within 72 hourswhile having minimal effect on non-cancerous breast cells.
- While both triple negative breast cancer cells and hormone-positive breast cancer cells were susceptible to curcumin treatmenttriple negative breast cancer cells were more sensitive.
- Curcumin suppressed the ability of triple negative breast cells to grow independently and to migrate.
This new research shows exciting promise for curcumin as a triple negative breast cancer fighting agent. Because triple negative breast cancer is not responsive to hormonal therapiesthe standard treatment typically involves chemotherapy and radiation. While research suggests that this type of breast cancer responds well to chemotherapyit has also been reported that triple negative breast cancer generally has poorer outcomes compared to other types of breast cancer. Any new developments in treatment options for this type of breast cancer are an important step in the fight against breast cancer. While curcumin certainly shows promise as a cancer fighting agentstudies in clinical trials will need to be conducted to determine if the positive benefits seen in cell culture systems translate to benefits in breast cancer patients. You can learn more about triple negative breast cancer at BreastCancer.org or by downloading the free Guide to Understanding Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.Read more about what steps you can take to proactively reduce breast cancer risk in my book Fight Now: Eat & Live Proactively Against Breast Cancer (www.fightBCnow.com).