Scientists use turmeric extract on bowel cancer tumours
06 Oct 2012
Scientists at the University of Leicester, funded by Hope Against Cancer, are pioneering the use of a common curry-cooking ingredient to target cancer cells.
The research in the University Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine is making use of actual tissue from tumours extracted from patients undergoing surgery.
The aim is use tissue from the colorectal tumours to effectively target chemo-resistant cells using curcumin, an extract of the commonly used root turmeric. Turmeric's potential use in Alzheimer's, arthritis and other disorders is also being investigated around the world.
Dr Karen Brown, a Reader at the University, is the principal investigator of this new research, which is also being led by Dr Lynne Howells, of the Chemoprevention and Biomarkers Group at the University.
Dr Brown says, ''Following treatment for cancer, small populations of cancer cells often remain which are responsible for disease returning. These cells appear to have different properties to the bulk of cells within a tumour, making them resistant to chemotherapy.
''Previous laboratory research has shown that curcumin, from turmeric, has not only improved the effectiveness of chemotherapy but has also reduced the number of chemo-resistant cells which has implications in preventing the disease returning.
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