Clinical trials hope to find spice link to curing cancer

Patients in Leicestershire are set to be the first in the country to test if an extract from the curry spice turmeric could help cure cancer.

It will be the first clinical trial of its kind at Leicester Royal Infirmary – and if successful could pave the way to developing a new treatment for advanced bowel cancer.

The research has been funded by �75,000 from Leicester charity Hope Against Cancer.

Wendi Stephens, the charity's co-ordinator, said: "We are very excited by this research.

"Our aim is to bring cutting edge treatment to local patients.

"Through this clinical trial and hopefully other future trials, patients could receive a direct benefit which could enhance their treatment and prognosis, which is what Hope Against Cancer strives to achieve."

Scientists at the University of Leicester say their research shows that curcumin, an extract of the root turmeric, has the ability to kill off cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy.

They are preparing to test the spice on about a dozen patients. They are focusing on people whose bowel cancer has spread to the liver, and most of the patients will be aged between 65 and 75.

Dr Karen Brown, from the university's department of cancer studies and molecular medicine, said: "The trial will look at whether the curcumin, given in conjunction with chemotherapy, can kill off resistant cells and if it can help with the side effects of the chemotherapy.

"At the moment, some patients have to stop treatment early because the side effects, such as pains in the hands and feet, become so severe."

A study has been carried out to test the safety and quantities of curcumin which can be given and the first patients are due to be recruited to the trial by autumn.

Capsules containing doses of curcumin ranging from half to two grams have been formulated.

Doses will start with one pill a day and gradually be increased.

Glen Irving, who is training to be a cancer surgeon and is working on the curcumin project, said: "Within this group, most of the treatment will be palliative but in a small number of cases it may be that the tumour can be shrunk and the patient can have surgery to remove it from liver."

The first trial is likely to last between three and six months.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503348/s/14680797/l/0L0Sthisisleicestershire0O0Cnews0CClinical0Etrials0Ehope0Espice0Elink0Ecuring0Ecancer0Carticle0E34830A220Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

Allied Irish Banks Skiing Argentina Waste West Ham United Michael Ballack