Effects of Curcumin on Treatment Outcome in Patients with Cancer Diagnosis

Introduction: Treatment options for palliative care in patients with cancer aim to improve quality of life, and, in this context, alternative, complementary treatments are under study to reduce treatment side effects and increase traditional treatment efficacy. Curcumin is a food supplement derived from the plant Curcuma longa, which has recently received increasing attention because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Previous clinical trials, with different results, investigated Curcumin’s efficacy in cancer treatment. We aimed to explore the effect of Curcumin on treatment outcomes in patients with cancer diagnosis. Methods: In this systematic mini-review, conducted to answer the research question "What is the effect of curcumin on treatment outcome of cancer patients?" we searched four portals/databases (Pubmed/Medline, BVS/Lilacs, Scielo, and Cochrane). The PICOT strategy adopted was: P - patients with cancer; I - Curcumin; C- not applicable; O - treatment outcome; T- RCT and cohort studies. Independent reviewers checked for eligibility and study quality. Results: We included six studies regarding prostate cancer, head and neck tumors, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and bladder cancer. Studies showed good tolerability for Curcumin with mild adverse effects. However, it showed no significant difference in survival or tumor progression. On the contrary, researchers observed exciting findings concerning preventing and relieving chemotherapy-related adverse effects. Discussion: Curcumin appears to be an intriguing potential adjuvant therapy in patients with cancer. Further studies on the topic are needed to investigate its possible concrete applications and to address the known problem of its poor bioavailability.