Effects of Turmeric Compounds on Factors that Help Cancer Cells Survive

Survival factors (also referred to as inhibitors of apoptosis, or IAPs) work to help repair DNA. However, this type of protein also works against apoptosis, a non-inflammatory type of cell death. Apoptosis is the body's natural way to get rid of abnormal cells. ^{(vi.3, 13, 16, 30, 38-39, 60, 106, 133)}

Cancer cells often stimulate production of IAPs and dysfunctional regulation of cells with DNA damage. IAPs allow abnormal cells to replicate, causing or promoting tumor growth. They can also contribute to a tumor's resistance to chemotherapy and radiation treatment. ^{(vi.13, 16, 38-39, 85, 133)}

The curcumin compounds in turmeric affect IAPs in different ways, depending on the stage of cancer growth: ^{(vi.2, 13, 16, 38-39, 98, 133-137)}

• Before cancer develops, curcumin promotes DNA repair enzymes to help fix damage caused by toxins.
• After cancer develops, curcumin inhibits IAPs stimulated by cancer cells. This can help increase the efficacy of conventional cancer therapies.

Active Turmeric Compounds

Besides curcumin, other compounds in turmeric also block proteins that help cancer cells survive. These include:

• BETA-SITOSTEROL (↓ Bcl-2 in leukemia cells) ^{(vi.71, 78, 138)}
• LIMONENE (↓ Bcl-2) ^{(vi.74, 77, 82, 139)}
• EUGENOL (↓ Bcl-2) ^(vi.74, 77)
• MYRICETIN (↓ Bcl-2) ^(vi.77, 79)
• QUERCETIN (↓ Bcl-2 and/or survivin in breast cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, oral cancer, and skin cancer) ^{(vi.78-79, 140)}