ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec 8, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- The spices turmeric and
pepper may help prevent breast cancer by limiting the growth of stem cells --
cells that fuel a tumor's growth, U.S. researchers say.
Current chemotherapies do not work against these cancer stem cells, which is why
cancer recurs and spreads. Eliminating the cancer stem cells may be the key to
controlling cancer, says Dr. Madhuri Kakarala, clinical lecturer in internal
medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School and a research
investigator at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
Researchers at the university's cancer center found that when the dietary
compounds curcumin, derived from the Indian spice turmeric, and piperine,
derived from black peppers, were applied to breast cells in culture at the
equivalent of about 20 times the potency of what could be consumed through diet,
they decreased the number of stem cells while having no effect on normal
differentiated cells.
"If we can limit the number of stem cells, we can limit the number of cells with
potential to form tumors," Kakarala, the study's lead author, said in a
statement.
Kakarala and his colleagues note this work has not been tested in patients and
patients are not encouraged to add curcumin or piperine supplements to their
diet at this time.
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