The lymphatic system is a part of the immune system. It consists of a network of vessels and nodes that carry infection-fighting lymph fluid throughout the body. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system and can be broadly classified into two types: non-Hodgkin's and Hodgkin's. Scientists have found that curcumin, a polyphenolic antioxidant derived from a ginger family spice called turmeric, can kill certain types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cells in laboratory experiments. They believe it could potentially become a cancer therapeutic agent.
Lymphoma Defined
Doctors distinguish Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma based on the appearance of the cancer cells under a microscope. Hodgkin's lymphoma occurs very rarely. The more commonly occurring non-Hodgkin's lymphoma involves the growth and division of abnormal T cells or B cells, types of infection-fighting white blood cells. There are many types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and in most cases the disease is idiopathic, meaning that doctors don't know the cause. Symptoms may include swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin, weight loss, fever, night sweats, trouble breathing, chest pain and persistent weakness and fatigue.
Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma
According to Macmillan Cancer Support, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that usually affects people between the ages of 40 and 60. This disease occurs when T cells in the skin become abnormal and grow and divide uncontrollably. Symptoms range from red, itchy skin patches in the early stage to large, painful and swollen areas of the skin in the advanced stages. In an article in the August 2010 issue of the "Journal of Investigative Dermatology," researchers disclosed that curcumin induced apoptosis, meaning cell death, in laboratory experiments with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma cell lines. The researchers believe that curcumin could potentially be useful as a theapeutic agent for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
Follicular Lymphoma
One of the most common of the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, follicular lymphoma involves abnormal B-cells that grow in the lymph nodes. Initially, only one group of lymph nodes is affected, but as the disease worsens, it spreads to nodes throughout the body. Ultimately, it spreads to organs such as the liver and lungs. In an April 2006 article in "Experimental Hematology," researchers reported that in laboratory experiments with three follicular lymphoma cell lines, curcumin blocked growth and division of the cells and induced apoptosis in all three cell lines.
Clinical Trial
In a report first released in August 2009 and updated in May 2011, the U.S. National Institutes of Health described a phase II clinical trial of curcumin in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. The trial is set to begin in August 2011, and will be coordinated by researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. In this study, the scientists will administer 8 g of curcumin per day to 28 patients over a period of six months. The goals of the trial are to assess the safety of curcumin and to determine if it can reduce the size of the skin lesions and relieve the itching associated with the two most common types of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
References
- MedlinePlus: Lymphoma
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University; Curcumin; Jane Higdon, et al.; January 2009
- Macmillan Cancer Support; Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma
- "Journal of Investigative Dermatology"; Curcumin Selectively Induces Apoptosis...; Chunlei Zhang, et al.; August 2010
- "Experimental Hematology"; Cellular Foundation of Curcumin-Induced Apoptosis...; Joanna Skommer, et al.; April 2006
- ClinicalTrialsFeeds.org; Trial of Curcumin in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Patients; Aug. 27, 2009
