Curcumin inhibits human leiomyoma xenograft tumor growth and induces dissolution of the extracellular matrix

Objective: To determine whether a curcumin-supplemented diet would prevent and/or treat uterine leiomyoma growth in our mouse xenograft model. Design: Animal study. Setting: Laboratory study. Patient(s): N/A. Intervention(s): Curcumin-supplemented diet. Main Outcome Measure(s): Dietary intake, blood concentrations, tumor size, extracellular matrix protein concentrations, apoptosis markers. Result(s): We found that curcumin was well tolerated as a dietary supplement, free curcumin and its metabolites were detected in the serum, and exposure resulted in approximately 60% less leiomyoma xenograft growth as well as dissolution of the peripheral extracellular matrix architecture of the xenografts. The production of matrix proteins, including collagens, decreased, whereas the number of apoptotic cells in the xenografts increased. Additionally, when xenografts were placed in a uterine intramural location, we found a significantly increased apoptotic response to curcumin in the diet. Conclusion(s): Mice on a diet supplemented with curcumin could achieve serum concentrations sufficient to regulate human leiomyoma xenograft growth, and curcumin could play both preventive and curative roles in the treatment of uterine leiomyoma as an oral nutritional supplement.