title: A controlled study of a lecithinized delivery system of curcumin (Meriva®) to alleviate the adverse effects of cancer treatment.
abstract: A proprietary lecithin delivery system of curcumin (Meriva) was evaluated in a controlled study to assess its efficacy in alleviating the side effects of cancer chemo- and radiotherapy in 160 patients undergoing these treatments. In both cases, a semi-quantitative evaluation of the side effects was carried out using a visual analogue scale, assessing also the plasma free radical status in all patients. Results showed that lecithinized curcumin might alleviate the burden of side effects associated to chemo- and radiotherapy, suggesting that the anecdotal use of various preparations of curcumin as a supportive agent for cancer treatment is well worth a systematic investigation in larger scale clinical trials. The capacity of curcumin to upregulate anti-oxidative responses and downregulate inflammatory pathways could explain its beneficial effect in tempering the prolonged and systemic oxidative and inflammatory effects of cancer treatment, and the beneficial effects observed in the plasma oxidative status in all patients of the treatment group support this view.
authors.affiliation: Chieti Pescara University, Biomedical Sciences, Corso Umberto I, 18 San Valentino, Pescara, 65020, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Belcaro
authors.forename: Morio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosoi
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Appendino
authors.forename: Edmondo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ippolito
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ledda
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dugall
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cesarone
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maione
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciammaichella
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Genovesi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Togni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054709:Lecithins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D054709:Lecithins; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Meriva; cancer; chemotherapy; curcumin; radiotherapy; supportive care