Turmeric and Tumor Metastasis

From MedPage Today, a good tidbit for those of us who like yellow food.

 Curry Component Fights Cancer Spread, by Crystal Phend

'The active ingredient in the curry spice turmeric may help block tumor metastasis, German and Italian researchers found. That compound, curcumin, reduced inflammatory markers, which correlated with a lower incidence of prostate cancer metastasis in their mouse model study reported in Carcinogenesis. Curcumin has also been shown to suppress breast cancer metastasis to the lungs in prior animal studies from the group. "This does not mean that the compound should be seen as a replacement for conventional therapies," lead author Beatrice Bachmeier, PhD, of Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, cautioned in a press release. "However, it could play a positive role in primary prevention – before a full-blown tumor arises – or help to avert formation of metastases. In this context the fact that the substance is well tolerated is very important, because one can safely recommend it to individuals who have an increased tumor risk.'