Efficacy and Safety of Curcumin as an Adjuvant to Standard Chemotherapy in Advanced and Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Study

The potential of the phytoconstituent, curcumin, as an adjuvant to chemoradiotherapy has been investigated because of its ameliorating effects, including the sensitization of cancer and cancer stem cells. Curcumin, a strong antioxidant with pharmacologically non-toxic effects, can be used as an adjuvant with enhanced bioavailability and administered along with chemotherapy to achieve better treatment outcomes. The present study was carried out with a total of 120 women with locally advanced/metastatic breast cancer, who were randomized to receive standard chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy with oral curcumin, a 500 mg capsule (1 g/day) containing 95% curcuminoid and 1% piperine given for 12 to 24 weeks. Primary outcomes were determined using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) to determine the objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and time to tumor progression (TTP), including safety and adverse events, while the quality of life (QoL) and physical activity were secondary outcomes. ORR was significantly higher in the curcumin group than in those who received standard chemotherapy (38.33% vs. 8.33%, p < 0.01) at 4 weeks follow-up post-treatment, which further improved (43.40% vs. 10.64%, p < 0.0031) upon completion of 12 weeks post-treatment. Curcumin-treated women displayed higher physical performance, better prognosis and QoL, better tolerance to chemotherapy, fewer adverse effects, and better PFS. The study suggests that curcumin can be used as a safe adjuvant along with chemotherapeutic drugs for a better treatment outcome in breast cancer and also in other cancers.