Breast Cancer Risk From Hormone Replacement Therapy May be Reduced by “Curcumin” Spice
In an animal study conducted at the University of Missouri, researchers found that the common Asian spice curcumin “delayed the first appearance, decreased incidence and reduced multiplicity of progestin-accelerated tumors” and “prevented the appearance of gross morphological abnormalities in the mammary glands”.
Postmenopausal women who have taken a combined estrogen and progestin hormone replacement therapy have increased their risk of developing progestin-accelerated breast tumors according to previous studies.
Progestin accelerated the development of certain tumors by increasing production of a molecule called VEGF that helps supply blood to the tumor. By blocking the production of VEGF, researchers could potentially reduce the proliferation of breast cancer cells. Curcumin inhibits progestin-induced VEGF secretion from breast cancer cells according to the study.
The study, “Curcumin delays development of MPA-accelerated DMBA-induced mammary tumors,” has been accepted for publication in Menopause, a journal of the North American Menopause Society.
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