Study of curry chemical’s bowel cancer benefits begins

A new UK-based trial has been launched to assess whether a chemical found in curry could help to improve drug response among advanced bowel cancer patients.

The Cancer Research UK and National Institute for Health Research Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre in Leicester will be conducting research involving tablets containing curcumin, which is commonly found in the spice turmeric.

Earlier studies have suggested that curcumin can enhance the ability of chemotherapy to kill bowel cancer cells, which potentially means it could allow lower dosage strengths to be administered, thus leading to fewer side effects.

Around 40 patients with bowel cancer that has spread to the liver will be recruited to take part in the study at Leicester Royal Infirmary and Leicester General Hospital.

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, as well as any possible side effects this could have."

Last month, the organisation highlighted data from a study suggesting that taking aspirin after being diagnosed with bowel cancer can reduce chances of dying from the disease by 30 percent.