Curcumin and bioperine target BC stem cells

I found the report in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.   The researchers used 5 micoMole and 10 MicroMole solutions of curcumin and piperacin on breast cancer and breast tissue cells in the lab. Here is the conclusion portion of the report:

"If systemic bioavailability of curcumin can be improved to allow bioactive concentrations of curcumin and piperine in vivo, then this combination may serve as an effective cancer preventive intervention to limit stem cell selfrenewal, since these cells and dysregulation of self-renewal pathways may be involved in carcinogenesis. Strategies aimed at reducing stem cell number and inhibiting their self-renewal could be an effective approach in cancer prevention. If this is the case, then assays such as mammosphere formation and ALDH expression may serve as biomarkers for cancer prevention studies in clinical trials. Curcumin, even at large doses, has been demonstrated to be non-toxic in clinical trials. Piperine has been shown in a small, phase I clinical trial to enhance the systemic bioavailability of curcumin [25]. However, a more systematic phase I trial with pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and toxicity endpoints of repeated dosing of these agents in combination is still needed. If proven safe and efficacious, dietary polyphenols could be an acceptable non-toxic longterm cancer risk reduction strategy."

Kakarala, M., Benner, D., Korkaya, H., Cheng, C., Tazi, K., Ginestier, C., Liu, S., Dontu, G. & Wicha, M. (2009).  Targeting breast stem cells with the cancer preventive compounds curcumin and piperine.  Breast Cancer Research and Treatment (Online Article), November 7, 2009. Accessed December 24, 2009, from http://www.springerlink.com/content/y27556643833025w/fulltext.pdf

edited to add forgotten quotation marks-NM

How about a salad dressing with olive oil, tumeric, black pepper and ginger and some balsamic to round it out? Pour it all over the broccoli sprouts in the salad.

Ok, let me get this straight. Take curcumin with oil and it does not matter if taken with other supplements. I read this on breastcancerchoices: FYI

 Breast cancer patients may consider taking 390 mg of CoQ10, which was
used in the Folkers and Lockwood studies on breast cancer patients.
Since CoQ10 is fat-soluble, taking the nutrient with an oil on an empty
stomach is recommended in order to maximize absorption.

Soooo much to remember

Peace, Love and a very Merry Christmas!!!!

Patty

Re: Curcumin interfering w/Tamoxifen -- what other info is there on this?  I'm don't want to take anything that interferes w/my Tamoxifen. Karenanne

seaotter, you wrote this:

"...

Ok, let me get this straight. Take curcumin with oil and it does not matter if taken with other supplements. I read this on breastcancerchoices: FYI

 Breast cancer patients may consider taking 390 mg of CoQ10, which was
used in the Folkers and Lockwood studies on breast cancer patients.
Since CoQ10 is fat-soluble, taking the nutrient with an oil on an empty
stomach is recommended in order to maximize absorption"

.....But CoQ10 is not Turmeric, so perhaps this is a lapsus?

Hi All,

Where can someone puchase curcumin (tumeric)?  Is it in the spice section of a grocery store or does a health food store such as GNC carry tumeric?

Karenanne, its so difficult to make any firm conclusion on some of these supplements, based on the limited information available.  At the very least, if there is evidence in that regard, you need to embark on these therapies at least with the awareness that possible adverse interactions may exist, and we need to talk about these matters.

In Canada you can buy a very large bag of it at Supestore for around $4.00.  You can buy gelatin capsules and cap them yourself.  Health food stores or mail order will have the capsules if you want to go that route.  It makes you hands yellow, but you can fill them yourself, even without any fancy tools.

And luckily we can have dark chocolate, in small quantities of course!!!

I am new to this site but was excited to see that people are talking about Curcumin mixed with bioperine. I started researching this subject back in Aug. when I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma very very small and node negative. I started to investigate  skin toxicity protection during radiation treatments. I found many different studies and I put the ones that made sense together and created a plan for myself. This is what I did. started 1 tsp turmeric, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 2 GNC's Womens Ultra Mega Capsules opened up, added to the dry mixture,  EVOO, and then used V8 juice to create a tonic, started this three weeks prior to starting radiation treatment 1x daily, increased to 2xs daily after starting radiation. I took a dose 30-40 minutes before radiation, did not shower before radiation, waited until after and never used soap on the treated breast to preserve natural body oil, used water only. After shower, I put GNC's 99% aloe gel on and let it dry before getting dressed. Again after work, I would take another tonic of Curcumin, ate dinner and based on another study out of Italy I drank one glass of Cabernet Suavignon, placed more aloe gel on, letting it air dry. I also requested the use of the IMRT and whole breast accelerated radiation treatment 16 fractions. I am small breasted but even with that in mind, the Drs are still amazed at the results. I looked the same at the end of treatment as I did when I began. The curcumin and pepper acted as a pain reliever and anti-flam and the red wine and natural body oil with aloe protected my skin. I did not even have any discoloration of the breast, still had my tan line from the summer. I did have some pain and pinching but had at least 6-7 hours of relief and knew when it was time to dose again with the curcumin. I then stopped taking all of this after treatment was completed and started the Tamoxefin, two weeks into taking this medication, I developed big hives that spanned accross my abdomine and inner thighs. It was not good, took two weeks to clear up after stopping the medication. I am Allergic to Sulfa drugs and the DR. had hoped that even though I am not able to take sulfa, I would not have a bad reaction to Tamoxefin...NOT... I was back looking for some alternative because I am only 40 and DR. said I have no other alternative to give you for prevention. I started my research again, I found the study out of UM. I then started the mixture back up and continue to take it 1x daily. I do not know if this system will work for others but wanted to share what I did that has amazed the Dr's in my little world. The Curcumin and pepper mix did not take all the pain away but I strongly believe it made it tolerable and only needed to take an over the county pain reliever a few times throughout treatment. I found another study that showed that Curcumin and Peperine  helped kill radiation resistant Cancer cells as well and inhanced the radiation while protecting the surrounding good tissue. I am 9 weeks out from the end of my treatment and doind very well. Thanks and it was nice to be able to tell someone.

Deni, do you take both the LEF Curcumin with Bioperine and the Super Absorbable version?  I have the super ab version, but was wondering if I shoud switch out....if so, how much of each do you take?

I can't find my notes right now...but I read somewhere not to take more than I think it was 10 or 15 mg of piperine or either bioperine per day.  Bioperine is a brand of piperine.  My Life Extension Super Curcumin has bioperine in it, so I have been taking 2  800 mg capsules with 5 mg bioperine included in each for a total of 1600 mg curcumin and 10 mg bioperine and to that I add 2000 mg of the Jarrow curcumin that doesn't have piperine.  Maybe someone else knows if there is a limit of how much piperine a person should have per day.  I also have a little bottle of Bioperine and it doen't mention a limit...it just says take one every time you take supplements to help with bioavailability.

Any help with this out there?