capecitabine + curcumin

Capecitabine + curcumin is a combination therapy consisting of the oral chemotherapeutic agent capecitabine and the natural polyphenol compound curcumin (the principal active component of turmeric). Capecitabine is a prodrug that is enzymatically converted to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in the body, where it inhibits thymidylate synthase, disrupting DNA synthesis and leading to cell death in rapidly dividing cancer cells. Curcumin exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and potential anticancer properties through multiple mechanisms including inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), downregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), modulation of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and interleukin-6, and chemosensitization effects that may enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy agents like capecitabine. The combination has been studied primarily for its ability to reduce chemotherapy-induced hand-foot syndrome (HFS) as well as for potential synergistic antitumor effects in cancers such as breast cancer and gastrointestinal malignancies[1][2][3][4]. Early clinical studies suggest that adding curcumin to capecitabine may lower both incidence and severity of HFS without compromising anticancer efficacy[1][2]. Preclinical data also indicate possible enhancement of tumor response via suppression of NF-κB signaling pathways[4].

Other names

capecitabine and curcumincapecitabine plus curcumin