Curcumin – a compound found in the popular Asian spice turmeric – has been shown to slow the advancement of mesothelioma when combined with certain peptide molecules, according to the results of a study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.

Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer in the lining — known as the mesothelium — of the lungs, abdomen and heart. More than 40,000 people worldwide die from it each year.

When curcumin is combined with “cancer-destroying peptides” known as PIAS3, the result is a molecule that promotes the growth of a protein inhibitor that stops mesothelioma in its tracks, according to scientists at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio and the Georg-Speyer-Haus in Frankfurt, Germany.

The study also found that PIAS3 peptides could be relied on as a “predictive marker” for treating malignant mesothelioma, a notoriously challenging disease due to its unpredictable progression in patients with similar tumor stages, grades and clinical presentations, according to The Health Site.

“Mesothelioma is a disease that continues to have a significant burden worldwide, and the treatment option is really suboptimal,” said the study’s senior author, Afshin Dowlati. “We must find better ways to treat it. We now understand the mechanisms that drive cell proliferation and growth in malignant mesothelioma.”

The future protocol for mesothelioma treatment may involve using a synthetic compound of a PIAS3 peptide or a curcumin analog, the latter of which would need to be developed in a form that the human body is able to absorb. There is practically no curcumin absorbed when it is ingested via Turmeric.

Scientists have begun clinical trials in an effort to develop methods to increase intercellular levels of PIAS3 with curcumin.

Mesothelioma Causes

Those who have been exposed to asbestos fibers run the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma. The disease can lie dormant in the body for 10 to 60 years after exposure. Negligent exposure to asbestos has led to thousands of mesothelioma lawsuits and asbestos class action lawsuits against companies.

Most mesothelioma patients have been exposed to dust from asbestos, a naturally occurring fibrous materials that for decades was used in many products, such as insulation in homes built between 1930 and 1950, roofing shingles, floor tiles, auto parts and textiles. Anyone living with someone who was exposed is also at risk of developing mesothelioma as they can unknowingly inhale the asbestos fibers as well.

Less common causes of the disease include the simian virus 40, accidentally included in some polio vaccines between 1955 and 1963, radiation, or a genetic predisposition.

Those at great risk of developing the disease include construction workers, asbestos miners and shipyard workers as well as millions of people who may have been unwittingly exposed in their homes or workplaces.

Join a Free Mesothelioma Asbestos Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos and developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, or cancer in the lining of the lungs, abdomen or chest cavity, you may be able to take legal action against the companies responsible. Don’t delay – in most states the statute of limitations is two years to file an asbestos lawsuit after you’re diagnosed. Obtain a free and confidential case evaluation by filling out the form on this page now.