Investigation of a novel anti-cancer effects of curcumin using comprehensive miRNA expression analysis

• Project/Area Number: 24590655
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Applied pharmacology
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: KANAI MASASHI 京都大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 講師 (70432416)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 村上 善基 大阪市立大学, 医学系研究科, 准教授 (00397556) ; 金井 恵理 天理医療大学, 教授 (20372584)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2014)
• Budget Amount: ¥5,330,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,230,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥2,990,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥690,000)
• Keywords: クルクミン / がん / マイクロRNA / QOL / miRNA / 膵癌 / 抗がん薬

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Many preclinical studies have demonstrated the anti-cancer effect of curcumin and curcumin could be a promising anti-cancer drug with minimal side effects. On the other hand, poor bioavailability has been a major challenge in developing curcumin as an anti-cancer drug. To overcome this problem, a highly bioavailable curcumin has been developed. First, we tested the safety of this new form of curcumin in cancer patients and verified its improved bioavailability as well as its safety. Then, we proceeded to a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial to demonstrate its efficacy. To date, we have observed the improvement of quality of life or increase of miRNA involved in tumor suppression after curcumin administration. We are now trying to verify these findings in a larger cohort and our final goal is to introduce curcumin into daily clinical practice to treat patients with cancer.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Therapeutic application of curcumin for patients with pancreatic cancer (2014)
  • Author(s): Kanai M
  • Journal Title: World Journal of Gastroenterology Volume: 20 Pages: 9384-9391
  • NAID: 120005522517
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Comparative Outcomes between Initially Unresectable and Recurrent Cases of Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Following Palliative Chemotherapy (2014)
  • Author(s): Xue P, Kanai M, Mori Y, Nishimura T, Uza N, Kodama Y, Kawaguchi Y, Takaori K, Matsumoto S, Uemoto S, Chiba T.
  • Journal Title: Pancreas Volume: 43 Issue: 3 Pages: 411-416
  • DOI: 10.1097/mpa.0000000000000050
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio for Predicting Palliative Chemotherapy Outcomes in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Patients (2014)
  • Author(s): Xue P, Kanai M, Mori Y, Nishimura T, Uza N, Kodama Y, Kawaguchi Y, Takaori K, Matsumoto S, Uemoto S, Chiba T
  • Journal Title: Cancer Medicine Volume: 3 Pages: 406-415
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Comparative Outcomes of Elderly and Non-elderly Patients Receiving First-Line Palliative Chemotherapy for Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer. (2014)
  • Author(s): Kou T, Kanai M, Ikezawa K, Ajiki T, Tsukamoto T, Toyokawa H, Yazumi S, Terajima H, Furuyama H, Nagano H, Ikai I, Kuroda N, Awane M, Ochiai T, Takemura S, Miyamoto A, Kume M, Ogawa M, Takeda Y, Taira T, Ioka T
  • Journal Title: J Gastroenterol Hepatol Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Pages: 403-408
  • DOI: 10.1111/jgh.12338
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Patients with recurrent biliary tract cancer have a better prognosis than those with unresectable disease: retrospective analysis of a multi-institutional experience with patients of advanced biliary tract cancer who received palliative chemotherapy (2014)
  • Author(s): Ikezawa K, Kanai M, Ajiki T, Tsukamoto T, Toyokawa H, Terajima H, Furuyama H, Nagano H, Ikai I, Kuroda N, Awane M, Ochiai T, Takemura S, Miyamoto A, Kume M, Ogawa M, Takeda Y, Taira K, Ioka T
  • Journal Title: J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Pages: 98-104
  • DOI: 10.1002/jhbp.2
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] A Phase I study investigating the safety and pharmacokinetics of highly bioavailable curcumin (Theracurmin) in cancer patients (2013)
  • Author(s): Kanai M
  • Journal Title: Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology Volume: on line Issue: 6 Pages: 1-10
  • DOI: 10.1007/s00280-013-2151-8
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] A single-center analysis of the survival benefits of adjuvant gemcitabine chemotherapy for biliary tract cancer (2013)
  • Author(s): Yamanaka K, Hatano E, Kanai M, Tanaka S, Yamamoto K, Narita M, Nagata H, Ishii T, Machimoto T, Taura K, Uemoto S.
  • Journal Title: Int J Clin Oncol Volume: 未確定
  • NAID: 120005652822
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] A phase I study investigating the safety and pharmacokinetics of highly bioavailable curcumin (Theracurmin(®)) in cancer patients (2013)
  • Author(s): Kanai M, Otsuka Y, Otsuka K, Sato M, Nishimura T, Mori Y, Kawaguchi M, Hatano E, Kodama Y, Matsumoto S, Murakami Y, Imaizumi A, Chiba T, Nishihira J, Shibata H.
  • Journal Title: Cancer Chemother Pharmacol Volume: Epub ahead of print
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Therapeutic application of highly bioavailable curcumin for patients with cancer (2014)
  • Author(s): Kanai M
  • Organizer: The 2nd International Conference on Pharma and Food
  • Place of Presentation: 静岡
  • Year and Date: 2014-11-05
  • Invited
• [Presentation] The current guideline of pancreatic cancer in Japan (2014)
  • Author(s): Kanai M
  • Organizer: Shanghai International Conference on Pancreatic Cancer
  • Place of Presentation: Shanghai
  • Year and Date: 2014-08-01 – 2014-08-03
  • Invited
• [Presentation] がん治療におけるクルクミンの可能性 (2014)
  • Author(s): 金井 雅史
  • Organizer: 第134年会日本薬学会
  • Place of Presentation: 熊本
• [Presentation] がん治療におけるクルクミンの可能性 (2013)
  • Author(s): 金井 雅史
  • Organizer: 第9回日本食品免疫学会
  • Place of Presentation: 東京
  • Invited
• [Presentation] A Phase I study of highly bioavailable curcumin (THERACURMIN ® ) in patients with refractory pancreatic or biliary tract cancer (2013)
  • Author(s): Kanai M, Otsuka Y, Otsuka K, Sato M, Nishimura T, Mori Y, Kawaguchi M, Hatano E, Kodama Y, Matsumoto S, Murakami Y, Imaizumi A, Chiba T, Nishihira J, Shibata H.
  • Organizer: ASCO GI meeting
  • Place of Presentation: Sanfrancisco
• [Presentation] ゲムシタビンに抵抗性となった膵癌・胆道癌患者に対するナノ化クルクミン療法の第I相臨床試験 (2012)
  • Author(s): 金井 雅史、森 由希子、西村 貴文、松本 繁巳、柳原 一広、千葉 勉、波多野 悦朗、川口 義弥、児玉 裕三、西平 順、大塚 和令、柴田 浩行
  • Organizer: 日本臨床腫瘍学会
  • Place of Presentation: 大阪