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Scottish Sun
15 hours ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
The £1 spice in your favourite curry that ‘slashes your risk of killer bowel cancer'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EVERY 12 minutes, someone in the UK gets the news they have bowel cancer. And with cases rising, especially in younger adults, trying to prevent the disease is more important than ever. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 A common kitchen spice may hold powerful cancer-fighting properties Credit: Getty But what if the secret to slashing your risk didn't lie in a new drug or fancy health food - but right there in your spice rack? Scientists from the UK have discovered that curcumin, the bright yellow ingredient in turmeric, commonly used in curries, could help stop bowel cancer in its tracks. The spice, which costs as little as £1 in some supermarkets, has been prized for its medicinal properties for thousands of years. And modern science has now begun to explore its potential benefits. It is not currently recommended by doctors to treat any health issues. But new research published in Cancer Letters this month supports earlier findings, that this spice could be a promising, low-risk way to help prevent cancer. The team from the University of Leicester studied tumour samples from 66 bowel cancer patients who agreed to donate their tissue. They exposed these cells to tiny amounts of curcumin over four weeks, mimicking long-term exposure through diet. They discovered that the compound suppressed aggressive, stem-like cancer cells by up to 95 per cent, particularly those found in pre-cancerous growths called adenomas. New Deborah James cancer lab In separate lab tests and on mice with cancer, scientists found curcumin delayed tumour growth and helped the animals live longer. Researchers found curcumin works by binding to and blocking a protein called NANOG, which helps cancer stem cells spread and multiply. To match this dose in humans, you'd need around 1.6 to 2 grams of curcumin daily - the equivalent of about two teaspoons of turmeric powder. That's far more than you'd get from cooking alone so would likely need a supplement. This isn't the first time curcumin has shown potential. Previous research from Temple University in Philadelphia found curcumin's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects could help halt the development of several cancers, including breast, lung, and stomach. While these findings are promising, experts stress that more human trials are needed to determine the exact dose and long-term benefits of curcumin supplements for bowel cancer prevention. "There is some evidence that curcumin, a substance in turmeric, can kill cancer cells in certain cancers," Cancer Research UK says on their website. "At the moment there is no clear evidence in humans to show that turmeric or curcumin can prevent or treat cancer," it added. "Larger studies are needed". Bowel cancer is one of the UK's most common cancers, with around 44,000 people diagnosed each year - around one person every 12 minutes - and 17,000 deaths. Rates of the disease are rising among younger adults, with no clear reason why, experts are warning. Although the disease still affects older people far more often, the increase in many countries among the under-50s is concerning, the cancer charity says. England is one the countries with the biggest rise, averaging a 3.6 per cent increase per year, researchers report in the journal Lancet Oncology, Poor diet and obesity may be among the risk factors involved, the researchers say. Eating too much processed meat and not enough fibre can increase the risk. Early symptoms include changes in bowel habits, blood in your poo, weight loss, and stomach pain or lumps. Cancer Research UK says half of cases could be prevented through healthier lifestyle choices. 2
The Sun
15 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
The £1 spice in your favourite curry that ‘slashes your risk of killer bowel cancer'
EVERY 12 minutes, someone in the UK gets the news they have bowel cancer. And with cases rising, especially in younger adults, trying to prevent the disease is more important than ever. But what if the secret to slashing your risk didn't lie in a new drug or fancy health food - but right there in your spice rack? Scientists from the UK have discovered that curcumin, the bright yellow ingredient in turmeric, commonly used in curries, could help stop bowel cancer in its tracks. The spice, which costs as little as £1 in some supermarkets, has been prized for its medicinal properties for thousands of years. And modern science has now begun to explore its potential benefits. It is not currently recommended by doctors to treat any health issues. But new research published in Cancer Letters this month supports earlier findings, that this spice could be a promising, low-risk way to help prevent cancer. The team from the University of Leicester studied tumour samples from 66 bowel cancer patients who agreed to donate their tissue. They exposed these cells to tiny amounts of curcumin over four weeks, mimicking long-term exposure through diet. They discovered that the compound suppressed aggressive, stem-like cancer cells by up to 95 per cent, particularly those found in pre-cancerous growths called adenomas. New Deborah James cancer lab In separate lab tests and studies on mice with cancer, scientists observed that curcumin slowed tumour growth and extended the animals' lifespan. They discovered curcumin works by attaching to and blocking a protein called NANOG, which plays a key role in helping cancer stem cells spread and multiply. To match this dose in humans, you'd need around 1.6 to 2 grams of curcumin daily - the equivalent of about two teaspoons of turmeric powder. That's far more than you'd get from cooking alone so would likely need a supplement. This isn't the first time curcumin has shown potential. Previous research from Temple University in Philadelphia found curcumin's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects could help halt the development of several cancers, including breast, lung, and stomach. While these findings are promising, experts stress that more human trials are needed to determine the exact dose and long-term benefits of curcumin supplements for bowel cancer prevention. "There is some evidence that curcumin, a substance in turmeric, can kill cancer cells in certain cancers," Cancer Research UK says on their website. "At the moment there is no clear evidence in humans to show that turmeric or curcumin can prevent or treat cancer," it added. "Larger studies are needed". Bowel cancer is one of the UK's most common cancers, with around 44,000 people diagnosed each year - around one person every 12 minutes - and 17,000 deaths. Rates of the disease are rising among younger adults, with no clear reason why, experts are warning. Although the disease still affects older people far more often, the increase in many countries among the under-50s is concerning, the cancer charity says. England is one the countries with the biggest rise, averaging a 3.6 per cent increase per year, researchers report in the journal Lancet Oncology, Poor diet and obesity may be among the risk factors involved, the researchers say. Eating too much processed meat and not enough fibre can increase the risk. Early symptoms include changes in bowel habits, blood in your poo, weight loss, and stomach pain or lumps. Cancer Research UK says half of cases could be prevented through healthier lifestyle choices. 2 Other foods that could lower your risk of bowel cancer SO tumeric might have protective benefits, but what else can you try? Charities like Bowel Cancer UK and Cancer Research UK recommend the following: Eat at least five portions of vegetables and fruit every day Choose wholegrain varieties of bread, rice and pasta Eat more pulses, such as beans and lentils Eat some fish, chicken, eggs and tofu, but limit red meat and avoid processed meat Drink some milk and eat other dairy foods, but choose low sugar and fat options Choose unsaturated oils and spreads instead of butter, and use in small amounts Avoid food and drinks high in fat or sugar, such as sweets, cakes, crisps and fizzy drinks Eat at least 30g of fibre a day Stay hydrated - aim for six to eight glasses of fluid daily Lower your alcohol intake
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Seraph 100 Blood Filtration Media May Reduce Tumor-Associated Particles in Blood Samples Drawn From Pancreatic Cancer Patients
New Laboratory Study Highlights Novel Approach to Disease Management Under Development MARTINEZ, Calif., February 24, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new laboratory study has provided insights into the potential therapeutic benefits of blood purification for patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the deadliest forms of cancer. Researchers have demonstrated that ExThera Medical's Seraph® 100 Microbind ® Affinity Blood Filter (Seraph 100) adsorption media selectively removes specific tumor-associated microparticles from the blood of PDAC patients, offering the potential for a novel approach to disease management. Previous in vitro studies have shown that the concentration of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be reduced through the use of Seraph 100 filter media. This latest study from a collaboration between Cedars- Sinai Medical Center, University of Southern California, and the Keck School of Medicine, which analyzed blood samples from seven PDAC patients, extends the findings by evaluating the impact of blood purification on additional tumorigenic factors, including microparticles and soluble proteins. "Although more clinical research is needed, these findings increase our understanding as we investigate a promising new approach for treating metastatic disease, which remains one of the most challenging and deadly forms of cancer," said ExThera Medical Chairman and Founder Bob Ward, NAE. The Seraph 100 is a broad-spectrum sorbent extracorporeal hemoperfusion filter initially developed for reduction of pathogens from the bloodstream inclusive of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. In vitro experiments previously demonstrated that Seraph 100 adsorption media is capable of removing CTCs from blood. The Seraph 100 now has nearly 70 peer-reviewed publications and print mentions. ExThera Medical remains committed to generating robust clinical data to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Seraph 100 across multiple applications. The results of the study were published in ScienceDirect's Cancer Letters. Shishido SN, Suresh D et al. Determining the efficacy of ExThera Seraph100 blood filtration in patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer through the liquid biopsy. BJC Rep 2, 47 (2024). doi: 10.1038/s44276-024-00069-3. Waldron R, Wang R, Shishido S et al. Selective removal of proteins and microvesicles ex vivo from blood of pancreatic cancer patients using bioengineered adsorption filters. Cancer Letters, 2025; 614:217546. doi: 10.1016/ About ExThera Medical Corporation ExThera Medical Corporation develops and commercializes extracorporeal blood filtration devices, including the Seraph® 100 Microbind® Affinity Blood Filter (Seraph 100) for removing a broad range of pathogens from the bloodstream of patients. Seraph 100 can be used in hospitals, clinics, on battlefields and in other austere environments to address nosocomial and community-acquired infections as well as those caused by battlefield wounds, pandemics, and biological warfare agents. ExThera Medical's extracorporeal products have demonstrated life-saving capabilities in a wide range of critically ill patients suffering from sepsis, COVID-19, and many other severe bloodstream infections. With a growing body of outcome and health economic evidence from independent clinical studies, success in the DARPA Dialysis-Like Therapeutics program, and from successful clinical use in the U.S., the EU, and the Middle East, the company is well positioned to serve healthcare professionals and patients alike. The Seraph 100 device has neither been cleared nor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any indication. The Seraph 100 has been authorized by FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to treat patients with COVID-19 infection. The Seraph 100 is authorized only for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of the Seraph 100 device under section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner. For more information, visit the company's website at About Seraph 100 and the ONCObind Procedure As a patient's blood flows through the Seraph® 100 Microbind® Affinity Filter (Seraph 100), it passes through a bed of small beads with receptors that mimic the receptors on human cells that pathogens target when they invade the body. Many harmful substances are quickly captured and adsorbed onto the surface of the beads and are thereby subtracted from the bloodstream. Seraph 100 adds nothing to the bloodstream. It targets the pathogens that cause the infection, while it also binds and removes harmful substances generated by the pathogen and by the body's response to the infection. Seraph's proprietary adsorption media (the beads) constitute a flexible platform that uses immobilized (chemically bonded) heparin for its well-established blood compatibility and its unique ability to bind circulating tumor cells, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and important sepsis mediators reported to contribute to organ failure during sepsis. ExThera Medical is currently developing the ONCObind Procedure Hemoperfusion Filter (ONCObind) to support cancer treatment. ONCObind is part of the same platform technology as Seraph 100. For more news stories on Seraph 100 and ONCObind, click here. Disclaimer All information contained in this news release derives from plausible, reliable sources, however they have not been independently examined or verified. There is no representation, warranty, or guarantee provided herein. Except as otherwise required by appliable law, all liability for any direct or indirect claims, damages or losses are hereby disclaimed whether or not foreseeable. This communication includes forward-looking statements regarding events, trends and business prospects that may affect our future operating results and financial position. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results and financial position to differ materially. Accordingly, the investment and/or the revenues that arise from it can rise or fall or fail entirely. We assume no responsibility to update or revise any statements contained in this news release, including forward-looking, to reflect events, trends, or circumstances that might arise after the date of this news release. Results from case studies (reviews) may not be predictive of future results. View source version on Contacts Stephanie Connollymedia@ Sign in to access your portfolio
