BBC Catches Up With Anticancer.org.uk

I know that's a bit of a cheeky title, but I do feel the need to point out that today's story on the BBC website: 

Curry's ability to fight cancer put to the test

is about the curcumin and chemotherapy trial that I wrote about here on the 19th December 2011:

http://www.anticancer.org.uk/2011/12/curcumin-trial-in-uk.html

In any case, it's a story worth keeping an eye. Of the many naturally derived substances that show anti-cancer ability, curcumin is one of the most promising, but also one of the most problematic. As a single agent it clearly doesn't have a strong enough anti-cancer action, even at high doses, so combining with other agents, like standard chemotherapy drugs, is a good strategy.

Ultimately though, I strongly suspect that it will be engineered molecules that are derived from curcumin that will make it into the clinic first. There are already different curcumin analogs showing promise in animal models - though none have made it to patient trials so far.