Turmeric to kill cancer cells- Kerala’s Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute wins US patent for curcumin fibrin wafer

A big breakthrough in the field of cancer treatment! Kerala’s iconic Sree Chitra
Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) in
Thiruvananthapuram has won a US patent for developing turmeric-based
curcumin fibrin wafer for cancer treatment! Experts are of the view that this 

 
turmeric-based fibrin wafer is bound to be a game-changer in the field of cancer
treatment.

According to a TOI report, the treatment involves extracting a
molecule from turmeric and directly delivering it to the affected cells. Notably,
the research by Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute was funded by the Indian Council
for Medical Research.

Turmeric, known for its health benefits, has a chemical compound known as
curcumin.

Curcumin can easily be absorbed in the body and has proven
properties to fight cancer, the Times of India report quoted SCTIMST head and
lead researcher, Dr Lissy Krishnan, as saying. The Week cites that for a long
time, researchers have been trying to develop cancer treatment using these

1. properties of turmeric, but it has not been possible to look into chemotherapy
   using curcumin as the molecule is water-insoluble.In a significant development, SCTIMST research has been focused on
   developing a delivery system through which the curcumin could directly be
   planted in the affected cells instead of using oral or intravenous methods. This
   would enable the molecule to target cancer cells while sparing the healthy cells
   in the surrounding.

   The delivery system devised by SCTIMST includes processing curcumin to
   form a wafer configuration. As per The Week, this wafer would consist of
   freeze-dried curcumin and human blood proteins fibrinogen and albumin. When
   released in the body tissues, the albumin present in fibrin clot would bind the
   albumin receptors to the cancer cells, allowing the entry of curcumin into the
   tissue. Meanwhile, the fibrin clot would be broken down as a result of the
   body’s natural mechanism, without any harmful effects.

   The TOI report has also quoted SCTIMST director Asha Kishore as saying that
   the aim is to implant the wafer after surgically removing the cancer tissue, so as
   to kill any remaining cancer cells that could cause the disease to reoccur or
   spread to other parts. The SCTIMST is now ready for transferring the
   technology for further development of curcumin as a cancer treatment, Kishore
   said, adding that the US patent would help in boosting the industry’s confidence
   in their research.

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