Exploring the Contribution of Curcumin to Cancer Therapy: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Curcumin's anticancer properties are well-documented in preclinical studies.
• Human clinical trials on curcumin's efficacy in cancer have yielded conflicting results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating curcumin's therapeutic effects in cancer patients.
• To assess curcumin's impact on cancer progression, patient survival, and treatment response.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to January 29, 2023.
• Seven RCTs published between 2016 and 2022, involving patients with various cancers (prostate, colorectal, breast, multiple myeloma, oral leucoplakia), were analyzed.
• Curcumin was primarily investigated as an add-on therapy.

Main Results:

• Curcumin demonstrated some positive effects on cancer response as a primary endpoint in several studies.
• However, curcumin did not show efficacy in improving overall survival or progression-free survival.
• The safety profile of curcumin was found to be favorable across the included studies.

Conclusions:

• Current clinical evidence is insufficient to support the therapeutic use of curcumin in cancer treatment.
• Further high-quality RCTs are needed, particularly exploring different curcumin formulations and early-stage cancers.