Testing the Anti-inflammatory Effects of Curcuminoids in Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and accounts for the second highest number of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Natural products such as the turmeric-derived curcuminoids are known to have protective effects against several kinds of cancers by acting as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. Here, we present a protocol for assessing the effects of curcuminoids on serum cytokine profiles in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of patients with stage 3 colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy. The protocol could also be applied to other cancer types.