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A MyMyelomaTeam Member asked a question 💭
Minnesota City, MN
November 18, 2025
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A MyMyelomaTeam Member

Inhibiting Angiogenesis: Curcumin can reduce the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that helps tumors form new blood vessels.
Modulating Cytokines: It decreases levels of inflammatory markers like IL-6 and TNF-α, which are involved in the pathogenesis of myeloma.
Increasing Drug Uptake: Myeloma cells show a strikingly higher uptake of curcumin compared to normal cells, which may offer a treatment advantage when used in combination therapy.
Clinical Trials and Case Studies:
Small clinical studies and case reports have suggested that curcumin may help stabilize disease in some patients, including those with advanced disease or who are intolerant of standard steroids like dexamethasone.
A study in patients with Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) and smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) showed modest decreases in paraprotein and free light chain levels, suggesting potential to delay progression to active MM.
One randomized controlled trial in Indonesia found that curcumin as an adjuvant therapy with melphalan and prednisone significantly improved overall remission rates compared to placebo.
Limitations and Future Directions: A key challenge is curcumin's poor water solubility and bioavailability, which researchers are trying to overcome using novel delivery methods like nanotechnology. The results from preclinical studies have not been consistently replicated in large-scale human clinical trials, and larger, longer studies are needed to confirm its benefits and establish standard treatment protocols.
Important Consideration
Curcumin is currently regulated as a dietary supplement by the FDA. Patients interested in using curcumin should consult their oncology team before starting any new supplement regimen, as it is crucial for coordinating with conventional cancer treatment plans.

November 18, 2025
A MyMyelomaTeam Member

Research indicates that curcumin shows promise in treating multiple myeloma (MM) and its precursor conditions, primarily by enhancing the effects of conventional therapies in lab and early-stage clinical studies. It is generally considered safe as a supplement, but it is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a standalone cancer treatment, and more extensive clinical trials are needed.
Key Research Findings
Synergistic Effects with Conventional Treatments: Preclinical studies (in lab and animal models) consistently show that curcumin can enhance the effectiveness of standard multiple myeloma drugs, such as bortezomib (Velcade), carfilzomib, thalidomide, and lenalidomide. It helps circumvent drug resistance, a major challenge in MM treatment.
Mechanisms of Action: Curcumin has a variety of anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. It works by targeting multiple cellular pathways involved in MM progression, including:
Downregulating NF-κB and Akt: These pathways promote cell survival and proliferation, and curcumin's inhibition of them leads to increased cancer cell death (apoptosis).

November 18, 2025
A MyMyelomaTeam Member

yes, it is a good question; I thought there might be some updates on that. I take Curcumin and I hope it's helping....something.

November 18, 2025
A MyMyelomaTeam Member

Hi Susan, I found this research study from the National Library of Medicine that may answer some of your questions, This is the link:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7141712/

Use of Curcumin in Multiple Myeloma patients intolerant of steroid therapy
Use of Curcumin in Multiple Myeloma patients intolerant of steroid therapy
November 18, 2025
A MyMyelomaTeam Member

Curcumin is proven to kill cancer and good for inflammation I ordered through Amazon.
You have to take large doses 4 grams per day which I don’t bug it helps me with pain.

November 22, 2025

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A MyMyelomaTeam Member asked a question 💭
Minnesota City, MN