%A Tuyaerts,Sandra
%A Rombauts,Klara
%A Everaert,Tina
%A Van Nuffel,An M. T.
%A Amant,Frédéric
%D 2019
%J Frontiers in Nutrition
%C
%F
%G English
%K Curcumin,Immunomodulation,endometrial cancer,Inflammatory biomarkers,Quality of Life
%Q
%R 10.3389/fnut.2018.00138
%W
%L
%M
%P
%7
%8 2019-January-11
%9 Clinical Trial
%#
%! Curcumin in endometrial cancer
%*
%<
%T A Phase 2 Study to Assess the Immunomodulatory Capacity of a Lecithin-based Delivery System of Curcumin in Endometrial Cancer
%U https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2018.00138
%V 5
%0 JOURNAL ARTICLE
%@ 2296-861X
%X Curcumin is a botanical with anti-tumor and immunomodulatory properties. We hypothesized that curcumin supplementation might influence inflammatory biomarker levels in endometrial carcinoma (EC). In this open-label, non-randomized phase 2 study (NCT02017353), seven EC patients consumed 2 g/day Curcumin Phytosome (CP) orally for 2 weeks. Blood was taken at baseline, days 1, 7, 14, and 21. The following analytes were measured: curcuminoids and metabolites, 56 inflammatory biomarkers, COX-2, frequencies of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, dendritic cells and NK cells, expression of MHC molecules on leukocytes and monocytes and activation/memory status of T cells. Patients completed quality of life (QoL) questionnaires at baseline and end of treatment. Curcumin metabolites were detectable in plasma upon CP intake. CP downregulated MHC expression levels on leukocytes (P = 0.0313), the frequency of monocytes (P = 0.0114) and ICOS expression by CD8+ T cells (P = 0.0002). However, CP upregulated CD69 levels on CD16− NK cells (P = 0.0313). No differences were observed regarding inflammatory biomarkers, frequencies of other immune cell types, T cell activation and COX-2 expression. A non-significant trend to improved QoL was observed. Overall, CP-induced immunomodulatory effects in EC were modest without significant QoL changes. Given the small population and the observed variability in inter-patient biomarker levels, more research is necessary to explore whether benefits of CP can be obtained in EC by different supplementation regimens.Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02017353; www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu, identifier 2013-001737-40.