%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.