title: Effect of saffron on liver metastases in patients suffering from cancers with liver metastases: A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cancer represents the second cause of mortality in the world. Saffron as a medicinal plant is known for its anti-cancer and anti-depressant properties. In this randomized double blind clinical trial, the effects of saffron on response to treatment in patients suffering from liver metastasis were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen patients suffering from liver metastases who referred to Ghaem and Imam Reza hospital, Mashhad, Iran were included in this study and then divided into two different groups. Both groups received chemotherapy regimen. Patients in group one were treated with saffron capsule (50 mg, twice daily) during chemotherapy periods whereas patients in group two received placebo. A sum of the longest diameter were calculated and compared for all lesions in IV contrast CT scan before and after the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  from 13 patients included in this study, six patients quit and seven continued until the end. In saffron-treated group, two patients showed partial and complete response (50%) whereas in placebo group, no response was seen. Also, two deaths in placebo and one in saffron group occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research suggests that saffron might be useful in patients suffering from liver metastasis. However, further investigations with larger sample size are required.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Azar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Hamed
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Anis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghanbari
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Omid Hospitsal, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Homaee Shandiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Omid Hospitsal, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Raziee
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Emam Reza Hospitsal, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pezeshki Rad
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran ; Medical Toxicology Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Hadi
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Mousavi
keywords: Cancer; Liver Metastases; Saffron