curcumin

This newscientist article talks about how a cancer patient's macrophages can be transformed from tumor feeders into tumor killers. It seems this is done by inhibition of NF-kB. Of interest is to note that Curcumin is widely known to do exactly that. Could it be that this is one mode of action for Curcumin's anti-cancer properties?

• Phase II Trial of Curcumin in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
  Two patients (out of 25) showed clinical biological activity. One had ongoing stable disease for >18 months; interestingly, one additional patient had a brief, but marked, tumor regression (73%) accompanied by significant increases (4- to 35-fold) in serum cytokine levels.
   
• http://www.goodhealth.nu/News_Articles/050111-curcumin-anti-cancer-US.htm