Ok, so I need to say I am NOT a physician. Looking up on Sloan Kettering's website about Tumeric (Curcumin) it states that it is metabolized by enzymes CYP3A4, CYP1A2 and CYP2D6 as is Imatinib (Gleevec). So Does this mean that both the Crucumin and the Gleevec lessen the affect of the other? Cancel each other out? Very confused and not sure if I should continue the Curcumin. I'd ask my oncologist but he does not know much about supplements. Any advice?
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Possible contraindication between Imatinib and Curcumin?
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Mayo Clinic pharmacologists told me to avoid it when on Sprycel. Gitel
Affect of imatinib therapy with and without turmeric powder on nitric oxide levels in chronic myeloid leukemia.
Randomized controlled trial
Ghalaut VS, et al. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2012.
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Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in different stages of malignancies. Increased levels of NO have been reported in different leukemias. Imatinib is the preferred drug for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Turmeric powder contains curcumin which has anti-leukemic property and also decreases NO synthesis. This study was conducted on fifty patients of CML divided into two groups, group A receiving imatinib alone and group B receiving turmeric powder along with imatinib for six weeks. Nitric oxide levels were estimated in these patients before and after receiving therapy and were analyzed statistically. Nitric oxide levels were found to be significantly decreased in both the groups, but more significantly in group B after receiving the respective treatments. Thus, curcumin acts as an adjuvant to imatinib in decreasing the NO levels and may help in the treatment of CML patients.
I have been taking and continue to take Curcumin since early in my treatment - starting with imatinib beginning in 2010 - for almost nine years. I was then changed to sprycel, first at 70 mg which caused severe myelosuppression. I was taken off drug, and continued to take upwards of 8 grams of Curcumin per day. I stayed off sprycel for over 3 months while my counts slowly recovered AND during that time, my PCR continued to drop, although very slowly. I resumed 40 mg sprycel and went into myelosuppression again. I was taken off drug for several weeks further while continuing Curcumin. My PCR stayed the same - no increase while off drug. My oncologist told me my response was interesting. I resumed sprycel at 20 mg while taking Curcumin (4 - 8 grams per day) and this time, my blood counts remain stable (minimal suppression), but my PCR began to plummet. I went from 20-30% PCR to below 0.1% in 3 months and then below 0.01% at next test. I am now PCRU and continue to take Curcumin as well as 20 mg sprycel.
Curcumin works in synergy with sprycel. It also works with imatinib as an adjuvent therapy. I have experienced it. I lived it. I have no doubt it is helpful in managing CML.
It is also potentially effective in the treatment of other cancers suggesting further synergy.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3162943/
When doctors suggest you "don't do something" ask them for references and citations showing the science behind their recommendation. If they have none, then it is just their "feeling".