Head & Neck Surgery Foundation Annual Meeting in San Diego
In a paper presented at the 2009 American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in San Diego, researchers examined the effects of curcumin on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) growths and found that Curcumin, the compound that gives curry powder its yellow/orange color, may inhibit the adverse effects of nicotine in patients with head and neck cancer who continue to smoke.
HNSCC cells were pre-treated with curcumin and then nicotine was introduced. Nicotine in general, has been shown to encourage the cancer-forming process.
The results of the studies showed that the curcumin was able to block the nicotine from activating cancer causing cells. The results may help to discover additional therapies for cancer prevention and treatment.
* Medical news today
