Curcumin for Cancer

Curcumin for Cancer: What It Is, How It May Help, and Safety

Author

Olivia Pearman, PhD

Research Associate

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Olivia Pearman is an experienced researcher who is passionate about access to scientific information. She has over a decade of research experience with a PhD from the University of Colorado at Boulder, a Master’s from the Yale School of the Environment, and a Bachelor of Science from Clemson University. Throughout her career, she has honed her skills in translating research for all audiences and is thrilled to work with CancerChoices to help make scientific knowledge available for everybody.

Olivia Pearman, PhD Research Associate

Clinical Reviewers

Jen Green, ND, FABNO

Naturopathic oncologist and CancerChoices advisor

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Dr. Green is a naturopathic physician who is board-certified in naturopathic oncology (FABNO). Dr. Green is also a cofounder/research director for Knowledge in Integrative Oncology Website, a nonprofit website that harvests up-to-date research in integrative oncology to support evidence-informed decision making. Dr. Green has published scientific articles in journals such as the American Urology Association Update Series, Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine and Natural Medicine Journal.

Jen Green, ND, FABNO Naturopathic oncologist and CancerChoices advisor

Chun Sing Lam, BPharm, PhD

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Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Chun Sing Lam, BPharm, PhD

Last update: April 21, 2026

Curcumin for cancer: what you need to know

• Curcumin (turmeric) is a plant in the ginger family that can be included in a normal diet or administered as oral or topical supplements.
• There is modest evidence showing that topical curcumin applications reduce pain and lesions caused by radiation treatments, especially among people with head and neck cancer.
• Some evidence shows longer progression-free survival and other clinical benefits with the use of oral supplements.
• While curcumin is considered safe to use alone, supervision by a medical professional is necessary if undergoing chemotherapy or surgery due to potential interactions.
• This is not a standalone treatment for cancer; it is a complementary therapy used alongside standard medical care to support treatment and/or well-being.

What is curcumin or turmeric?

Turmeric, Curcuma longa, is a tropical plant in the ginger family. Curcumin is the major constituent and the active component in turmeric, but other curcuminoids have also been studied. Curcumin (turmeric) is widely available as a dietary supplement. 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved curcumin as a treatment for cancer or any other medical condition. Curcumin is well established for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.¹Fadus MC, Lau C, Bikhchandani J, Lynch HT. Curcumin: an age-old anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic agent. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. 2016 Sep 9;7(3):339-346. Curcumin may reduce some side effects such as fatigue, pain, nausea, and vomiting related to cancer treatments and may improve the quality of life for people with cancer. It may also make your body less supportive of cancer growth and development, such as by improving blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity.

Curcumin is poorly absorbed by the gastrointestinal (GI) tract into the blood.²Fajardo AM, Piazza GA. Chemoprevention in gastrointestinal physiology and disease. Anti-inflammatory approaches for colorectal cancer chemoprevention. American Journal of Physiology. Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology. 2015 Jul 15;309(2):G59-70. However, some formulations have been developed that may increase absorption including Meriva®,³Lagoa R, Silva J, Rodrigues JR, Bishayee A. Advances in phytochemical delivery systems for improved anticancer activity. Biotechnology Advances. 2019 Apr 9. pii: S0734-9750(19)30063-1 nanocapsule formulations,⁴Wong KE, Ngai SC et al. Curcumin nanoformulations for colorectal cancer: a review. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2019 Mar 5;10:152 combinations with piperine (black pepper), and others.⁵Gulbake A, Jain A, Jain A, Jain A, Jain SK. Insight to drug delivery aspects for colorectal cancer. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2016 Jan 14;22(2):582-99; Feng T, Wei Y, Lee RJ, Zhao L. Liposomal curcumin and its application in cancer. International Journal of Nanomedicine. 2017 Aug 21;12:6027-6044.

Safety

• Generally safe if used alone, especially in food amounts. 
• Supervision by a medical professional is essential if you are receiving cancer treatment (especially oral cancer medications), or planning surgery. 
• Use caution if you have existing gastrointestinal conditions, liver issues, iron deficiencies, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Known interactions, consult with your healthcare provider before adding to your regimen.
• Minor gastrointestinal issues such as bloating or loose stools are the most common side effects; more severe adverse reactions such as liver damage are rare and mostly associated with high doses, prolonged use, or products that contain added ingredients to increase absorption.

See full safety details ↓

How curcumin may help people with cancer

Strength of evidence rating

We rate the strength of the evidence with 0=no evidence, 1=weak evidence, 2=modest evidence, and 3=good evidence. Read more about our method in detail here ›

Optimizing your body terrain

Available studies show curcumin (turmeric) supplements may improve blood sugar and insulin regulation.¹⁴Cicero AFG, Sahebkar A, et al. Effects of phytosomal curcumin on anthropometric parameters, insulin resistance, cortisolemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease indices: a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. European Journal of Nutrition. 2019 Feb 22;59(2):477–483; Demmers A, Korthout H, van Etten-Jamaludin FS, Kortekaas F, Maaskant JM. Effects of medicinal food plants on impaired glucose tolerance: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 2017 Sep;131:91-106; Chuengsamarn S, Rattanamongkolgul S, Luechapudiporn R, Phisalaphong C, Jirawatnotai S. Curcumin extract for prevention of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2012 Nov;35(11):2121-7. Several clinical studies have also shown reduced inflammation markers and less oxidative stress among people taking curcumin supplements.¹⁵Tabrizi R, Vakili S, et al. The effects of curcumin-containing supplements on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytotherapy Research. 2019 Feb;33(2):253-262; Sahebkar A. Are curcuminoids effective C-reactive protein-lowering agents in clinical practice? Evidence from a meta-analysis. Phytotherapy Research. 2014 May;28(5):633-42; Belcaro G, Cesarone MR et al. Efficacy and safety of Meriva®, a curcumin-phosphatidylcholine complex, during extended administration in osteoarthritis patients. Alternative Medicine Review. 2010 Dec;15(4):337-44; Macis D, Briata IM, et al. Inflammatory and metabolic biomarker assessment in a randomized presurgical trial of curcumin and anthocyanin supplements in patients with colorectal adenomas. Nutrients. 2023 Sep 7;15(18):3894; Panahi Y, Saadat A et al. Antioxidant effects of bioavailability-enhanced curcuminoids in patients with solid tumors: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Functional Foods. 2014;6:615–622; Heshmati J, Golab F et al. The effects of curcumin supplementation on oxidative stress, Sirtuin-1 and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivator 1α gene expression in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews. 2020 Mar-Apr;14(2):77-82. Curcumin’s impact on immune function is unclear as there are studies showing both increased and decreased immune function markers.¹⁶Pereira CH, Martins AFL, et al. Oral mucositis management with photobiomodulation, Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae) and Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae), the FITOPROT herbal medicine, and its influence on inflammatory cytokine levels: a randomized clinical trial. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2024 Sep 2;32(9):628; Naeini F, Tutunchi H, et al. Does nano-curcumin supplementation improve hematological indices in critically ill patients with sepsis? A randomized controlled clinical trial. Journal of food biochemistry. 2022 May;46(5):e14093; Xu B, Yu L, Zhao LZ. Curcumin up regulates T helper 1 cells in patients with colon cancer. American Journal of Translational Research. 2017 Apr 15;9(4):1866-1875.

Reducing cancer risk or recurrence

Curcumin (turmeric) may improve some precancerous conditions such as certain types of stomach, cervical, oral, or skin lesions.¹⁷Shi W, Wang Q, et al. (2024). Evaluating the efficacy of curcumin in the management of oral potentially malignant disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PeerJ, 12, e18492; Golombick T, Diamond T, et al (2012). Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, smoldering multiple myeloma, and curcumin: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over 4g study and an open-label 8g extension study. American Journal of Hematology. 87:455-60; Das AD, Balan A, & Sreelatha KT. (2010). Comparative study of the efficacy of curcumin and turmeric oil as chemopreventive agents in oral submucous fibrosis: a clinical and histopathological evaluation. Journal of Indian Academy of Oral Medicine and Radiology. 22:88-92; Cheng AL, Hsu CH et al. (2001). Phase I clinical trial of curcumin, a chemopreventive agent, in patients with high-risk or pre-malignant lesions. Anticancer Research. 21(4B):2895-900. Some small studies have shown improvement with other pre-cancerous conditions including smoking behavior and high levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA).¹⁸Fabiani A, Morosetti C, et al. (2018). Effect on prostatic specific antigen by a short time treatment with a Curcuma extract: a real life experience and implications for prostate biopsy. Archivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia. 90(2):107-111; Polasa K, Raghuram TC, et al. (1992). Effect of turmeric on urinary mutagens in smokers. Mutagenesis. 7(2):107-9. In a small study, curcumin was not shown to have a measurable effect on the number or size of polyps among people with familial adenomatous polyposis.¹⁹Cruz-Correa M, Hylind LM et al. (2018). Efficacy and safety of curcumin in treatment of intestinal adenomas in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. Gastroenterology. 155(3):668-673.

See the full evidence summary ›

Affordability and access

Is a prescription required?

• No, but we recommend you consult your oncology team before using this therapy 

Other names and brands

You may find turmeric and curcumin under these alternate names and brands: 

• Curcuminoid
• Jiang huang (Chinese name)
• NCB-02 (a standardized mixture of curcuminoids)
• Meriva (curcumin bound to soy lecithin, or phosphatidylcholine)
• Theracurmin (curcumin microsomes)
• Curcumin C3 Complex 

Where to find it

• Foods containing curcumin—turmeric and curry powder—are widely available in grocery stores. 
• Supplements containing curcumin or turmeric powder are widely available at retail and online drug stores and pharmacies.

Affordability

• Costs per month can vary greatly from $10-$100 depending on the brand and where it is purchased. 
• Curcumin (turmeric) is not covered by insurance.

Find an integrative provider ›

Full safety details

Curcumin (turmeric) is generally regarded as safe by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, long-term regular use even at low doses can lead to liver damage in some cases. Supervision by a medical professional is necessary if undergoing chemotherapy due to potential interactions with treatment, and potentially caution before surgery.

Interactions with cancer treatments

Curcumin (turmeric) interacts with multiple CYP enzymes in the liver that process many medications, including certain cancer treatments. This may influence drug efficacy or increase the risk of side effects so it is important to discuss with your doctor and pharmacist to understand if any of your prescriptions may be affected by turmeric supplementation. Use caution and check with your oncology team first if you are receiving or are planning to receive cancer treatment and are interested in using curcumin or turmeric.

In one study, it was shown that it may slightly reduce the effectiveness of tamoxifen.²⁰Hussaarts KGAM, Hurkmans DP et al. Impact of curcumin (with or without piperine) on the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen. Cancers (Basel). 2019 Mar 22;11(3). pii: E403. However, some studies suggest that curcumin did not appear to increase toxicities of certain cancer treatments such as irinotecan and was tolerated in combination with some chemotherapy regimens.²¹Bayet-Robert, M., Kwiatowski, F., Leheurteur, M., et al. (2010). Phase I dose escalation trial of docetaxel plus curcumin in patients with advanced and metastatic breast cancer. Cancer biology & therapy, 9(1), 8-14; Gbolahan OB, O’Neil BH, et al. (2022). A phase I evaluation of the effect of curcumin on dose-limiting toxicity and pharmacokinetics of irinotecan in participants with solid tumors. Clinical and translational science, 15(5), 1304–1315; Jeon Y, Sym, SJ, et al. (2022). Long-term survival, tolerability, and safety of first-line bevacizumab and FOLFIRI in combination with ginsenoside-modified nanostructured lipid carrier containing curcumin in patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer. Integrative cancer therapies, 21, 15347354221105498.

Side effects and adverse reactions

Curcumin and turmeric are usually administered as oral supplements though may also be applied in topical applications or intravenously. Curcumin (turmeric) is generally associated with very few, mostly minor side effects and significant adverse reactions are rare.²²O’Rawe M, Wickremesekera AC, et al. (2022). Treatment of glioblastoma with re-purposed renin-angiotensin system modulators: Results of a phase I clinical trial. Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia, 95, 48–54; Jeon Y, Sym, SJ, et al. (2022). Long-term survival, tolerability, and safety of first-line bevacizumab and FOLFIRI in combination with ginsenoside-modified nanostructured lipid carrier containing curcumin in patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer. Integrative cancer therapies, 21, 15347354221105498; Kuptniratsaikul V, Dajpratham P, et al. (2014). Efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts compared with ibuprofen in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a multicenter study. Clinical interventions in aging, 9, 451–458. As curcumin supplements have increased in popularity and usage, there have also been an increase in cases of liver damage associated with regular, long-term use of curcumin supplements; however, these cases are still comparatively rare.²³Halegoua-DeMarzio D, Navarro V, et al. (2023). Liver Injury Associated with Turmeric-A Growing Problem: Ten Cases from the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network [DILIN]. The American journal of medicine, 136(2), 200–206; Garaizabal Azkue ÍJ, Castiella A, et al. (2024). Turmeric associated liver injury (DILI) with susceptible HLA. Revista española de enfermedades digestivas, 116(11), 650–651; Smith DN, Pungwe P, et al. (2023). Turmeric-Associated Liver Injury: A Rare Case of Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Cureus, 15(3), e36978; Sunagawa SW, Houlihan C, et al. (2022). Turmeric-Associated Drug-Induced Liver Injury. ACG case reports journal, 9(12), e00941; Sohal A, Alhankawi D, et al. (2021). Turmeric-Induced Hepatotoxicity: Report of 2 Cases. International medical case reports journal, 14, 849–852; Lombardi N, Crescioli G, et al. (2021). Acute liver injury following turmeric use in Tuscany: An analysis of the Italian Phytovigilance database and systematic review of case reports. British journal of clinical pharmacology, 87(3), 741–753; Chand S, Hair C, & Beswick L. (2020). A rare case of turmeric-induced hepatotoxicity. Internal medicine journal, 50(2), 258–259; Luber RP, Rentsch C, et al. (2019). Turmeric Induced Liver Injury: A Report of Two Cases. Case reports in hepatology, 2019, 6741213. Liver damage associated with curcumin may be more likely when combined with piperine (black pepper extract), which is used to increase curcumin absorption; however, more research is needed.²⁴Stati G, Rossi F, et al. (2021). Curcuma longa Hepatotoxicity: A Baseless Accusation. Cases Assessed for Causality Using RUCAM Method. Frontiers in pharmacology, 12, 780330. More severe side effects are mostly associated with higher doses or long-term use. Other side effects include:²⁵Lao CD, Rufin MT et al. Dose escalation of a curcuminoid formulation. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2006;6:10; Fadus MC, Lau C, Bikhchandani J, Lynch HT. Curcumin: an age-old anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic agent. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. 2016 Sep 9;7(3):339-346; Kanai M, Yoshimura K et al. A phase I/II study of gemcitabine-based chemotherapy plus curcumin for patients with gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2011 Jul;68(1):157-64; Cheng AL, Hsu CH et al. Phase I clinical trial of curcumin, a chemopreventive agent, in patients with high-risk or pre-malignant lesions. Anticancer Research. 2001 Jul-Aug;21(4B):2895-900

• Mild gastrointestinal disturbances such as loose stools and abdominal discomfort²⁶De Jaeghere EA, Tuyaerts S, et al. (2023). Pembrolizumab, radiotherapy, and an immunomodulatory five-drug cocktail in pretreated patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical or endometrial carcinoma: Results of the phase II PRIMMO study. Cancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII, 72(2), 475–491.
• Bloating²⁷Epelbaum R, Schaffer M, Vizel B, Badmaev V, Bar-Sela G. Curcumin and gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Nutrition and Cancer. 2010;62(8):1137-41
• A single case report described iron deficiency anemia²⁸Smith TJ, & Ashar BH. (2019). Iron Deficiency Anemia Due to High-dose Turmeric. Cureus, 11(1), e3858.
• Autoimmune hepatitis²⁹Lukefahr AL, McEvoy S, et al. (2018). Drug-induced autoimmune hepatitis associated with turmeric dietary supplement use. BMJ case reports, 2018, bcr2018224611; Lee BS, Bhatia T, et al. (2020). Autoimmune Hepatitis Associated With Turmeric Consumption. ACG case reports journal, 7(3), e00320; Arzallus T, Izagirre A, et al. (2023). Drug induced autoimmune hepatitis after turmeric intake. Gastroenterologia y hepatologia, 46(10), 805–806.
• Kidney damage³⁰Washington O, Robinson E, et al. (2024). Oxalate nephropathy and chronic turmeric supplementation: a case report. Jornal brasileiro de nefrologia, 46(1), 99–106; Garg AX, Devereaux PJ, et al (2018). Oral curcumin in elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: a multicentre randomized controlled trial. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l’Association medicale canadienne, 190(43), E1273–E1280.
• A single case report observed suppressed white blood cell count with high dose raw root ingestion³¹Abdel-Razeq R, Iweir S, et al. (2021). Prolonged Neutropenia and Yellowish Discoloration of the Skin, But Not the Sclera, Following Excessive Turmeric Raw Root Ingestion. Cureus, 13(4), e14754.
• Skin reactions such as hives, contact dermatitis, or contact allergy³²Babu D & Rai R. (2023). Allergic and photoaggravated contact dermatitis from turmeric in mangalsutra: A cultural dermatosis. Contact dermatitis, 89(5), 396–397; Liddle M, Hull C, et al. (2006). Contact urticaria from curcumin. Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 17(4), 196–197; Lamb SR, & Wilkinson SM. (2003). Contact allergy to tetrahydrocurcumin. Contact dermatitis, 48(4), 227.

Intravenous application of curcumin at high doses may have higher risk for more severe side effects or adverse reactions.³³Storka A, Vcelar B et al. Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of liposomal curcumin in healthy humans. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2015 Jan;53(1):54-65. One case of death associated with intravenous use of curcumin was reported in 2018.³⁴Lasoff DR, Cantrell FL, & Ly BT. (2018). Death associated with intravenous turmeric (Curcumin) preparation. Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 56(5), 384–385.

Contraindications and precautions

Do not use curcumin (turmeric) if you have a known allergy to turmeric or curcumin. Use caution and consult your healthcare provider before use if you have iron deficiencies, gastrointestinal issues such as ulcers or gallstones, or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.³⁵Weil A. Curcumin or turmeric? Andrew Weil, MD. Viewed October 11, 2021; Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing. Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts. 2010; McKinney N. Naturopathic Oncology, 3rd Edition. Victoria, BC, Canada: Liaison Press. 2016. Curcumin (turmeric) may have blood-thinning effects and could increase the risk of bleeding.³⁶Daveluy A, Géniaux H, Thibaud L, Mallaret M, Miremont-Salamé G, Haramburu F. Probable interaction between an oral vitamin K antagonist and turmeric (Curcuma longa). Therapie. 2014 Nov-Dec;69(6):519-20; Fadus MC, Lau C, Bikhchandani J, Lynch HT. Curcumin: an age-old anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic agent. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. 2016 Sep 9;7(3):339-346. Check with your oncology team before surgery.

Drug interactions 

There are known potential drug interactions with curcumin (turmeric), including immunosuppressants and certain chemotherapies. Interactions with medications and other interventions are complex. Always consult with a healthcare professional before adding any new therapy to your regimen. To learn more about interactions visit one of the trusted resources below: 

• KNOWoncology ›
• EfficaSafe ›
• About Herbs ›

FAQs

• Can curcumin help fight cancer?
  Some studies show enhanced response to treatment, longer overall survival, and longer progression-free survival among people with cancer treated with curcumin (turmeric) along with traditional cancer treatment.
• Can curcumin help with cancer side effects?
  Yes, turmeric or curcumin may reduce some side effects such as fatigue, pain, nausea, and vomiting and may improve quality of life for people with cancer. It may also help manage symptoms of oral mucositis and radiation dermatitis.
• Can curcumin help reduce cancer risk?
  Curcumin (turmeric) may improve some precancerous conditions such as certain types of stomach, cervical, oral, or skin lesions. It may also improve other pre-cancerous conditions including smoking behavior and high levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
• Does curcumin support immune function in cancer patients?
  Curcumin’s impact on immune function is unclear as there are studies showing both increased and decreased immune function markers.
• Can curcumin reduce inflammation in cancer patients? 
  Several clinical studies have shown reduced inflammation markers among people taking curcumin supplements.

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