Curcumin and Boron in Cancer Treatment

 

“We are told things may change and that we should prepare for the unknown. I think it is important to pay attention, use the information then carry on with our lives. This is why I like to focus on the health aspect here.”

 

Fortunately, there seems to be a shift in releasing studies that successfully treat cancer. These types of studies do not often reach the public domain; they were released by independent media. A few weeks back it was the combination of DMSO and vitamin C put topically for treating squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCCIS)—the results were quite amazing.

 

In this “open-label study, 17 patients with 27 histologically confirmed SCCIS lesions applied 30% ascorbic acid in DMSO topically twice daily for 12 weeks. Lesion size and histologic resolution were assessed by repeat biopsy at week 12. (…) Complete histologic resolution occurred in 15 of 27 lesions (56%), while 44% of lesions showed >85% reduction in size. The mean reduction in lesion area was 71%. Only 2 lesions (7%) failed to respond. Most residual lesions demonstrated actinic atypia without carcinoma and were successfully treated with cryotherapy. No patients discontinued due to adverse effects. Ninety- four percent of participants (16/17) avoided surgical excision. Topical 30% ascorbic acid in DMSO demonstrated promising efficacy and excellent tolerability in the treatment of SCCIS, offering a potential non-invasive alternative to surgery. Larger, controlled trials are warranted.”[1]

DMSO was used as a skin-penetration enhancer because it can temporarily alter the lipid structure of the outer skin barrier, helping a water-soluble compound such as vitamin C to penetrate more effectively into the treated lesion.

Curcumin in cancer treatment

The study released this week shows how curcumin, the active component of the spice turmeric, helps treat cancer cells in laboratory models. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory and potential anticancer properties and since chronic inflammation is linked to cancer development, curcumin may help inhibit cancer growth by regulating inflammatory substances, reducing oxidative stress, and influencing various cellular processes. It also affects growth factors, cancer-related proteins, and signaling pathways involved in the development and spread of cancer. This is why clinical trials investigate its potential role in treating different types of cancer.

Researchers from Wroclaw Medical University and the University of Wrocław published a comparative study[2] in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in July 2026. This “study from Wrocław Medical University found that curcumin reduces ATP levels in fibrosarcoma cancer cells by up to 92%, pushing over 75% of those cells into permanent senescence — while causing significantly less damage to healthy muscle cells. Curcumin outperformed four other natural compounds (berberine, biochanin A, cucurbitacin E, CAPE) for the best balance of anticancer efficacy and safety.”[3]

According to the researchers at Wrocław Medical University, “[t]he study focused on the NF-κB signaling pathway, which regulates inflammation, metabolism, cell survival, and cellular aging. In cancer cells, excessive activation of this pathway may promote survival and adaptation to adverse conditions. At the same time, NF-κB is essential for normal cell function, so the goal is not to switch it off completely but rather to modulate its activity as precisely as possible.”[4]

Boron in cancer treatment

“Boron has [also] become a crucial weapon in anticancer research due to its significant intervention in cell proliferation. Being an excellent bio-isosteric replacement of carbon, it has modulated the anticancer efficacy of various molecules in the development pipeline.”[5]

Because there are many boron derivatives, a study investigated the anti-cancer effects of boric acid (BA), sodium pentaborate pentahydrate (NaB), and sodium perborate tetrahydrate (SPT) against small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell line DMS-114 cells in vitro. Based on their findings all three derivates showed anti-cancer activity in the DMS-114 cell line without damaging MRC-5 cells.[6]

Research on boron’s anticancer properties evidently suggests that it might play a role in reducing the risk of certain cancers. Studies, primarily conducted in laboratory settings and on animal models, indicate that boron compounds can inhibit the growth of various cancer cells, including breast, prostate, cervical, and lung cancers. The mechanisms behind boron’s anticancer effects are thought to involve the modulation of cellular signaling pathways, reduction of inflammation, and enhancement of the body’s natural antioxidant defenses. Boron is also believed to influence the activity of enzymes and hormones that are involved in cancer progression.

Studies suggest that complexation, or the formation of a complex compound between curcumin and boron, can enhance the bioavailability and biological activity of curcumin. This enhancement potentially leads to increased antioxidant capacity, which helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, and improved antiproliferative effects against various cancer cell lines, indicating a potential for the prevention and treatment of cancer.

In a study[7] exploring treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a leading cause of cancer-related death, sodium pentaborate pentahydrate (NaB), curcumin (Cur), and piperine (Pip) were tested individually and in combination on HCC cell lines, HepG2 and Hep3B. The combination of NaB, Cur, and Pip demonstrated a synergistic effect, increasing cytotoxicity, inducing apoptosis, and affecting the cell cycle in both cell lines, as supported by transcriptome analysis, suggesting enhanced anti-cancer activity.

Life Choice Boron with curcumin

Life Choice Boron contains 3.36 mg in the form of boron glycinate chelate. Another ingredients are curcuma longa, and, to help its absorption, piperine (black pepper) is also present. The bioavailability of curcumin from Curcuma longa L. is poor due to rapid metabolism in the liver and intestinal wall. Research[8] investigated the impact of combining piperine, a known inhibitor of hepatic and intestinal glucuronidation, on curcumin bioavailability in rats and human volunteers. When curcumin was administered alone to rats, it achieved moderate serum concentrations over 4 hours. Co-administration of piperine significantly increased serum concentrations for 1-2 hours, leading to a 154% increase in bioavailability. In humans, curcumin alone resulted in undetectable or very low serum levels, while co-administration with piperine produced a substantial increase (2000%) in bioavailability without adverse effects.

Sometimes it is hard to choose what topic to discuss in our newsletters and how to single out what to focus on especially when we are told things may change and that we should prepare for

the unknown. I think it is important to pay attention, use the information then carry on with our lives. This is why I like to focus on the health aspect here.

 

References:

 

[1] Miller, Patricia et al. 2025.

[2] Radzka, Justyna et al. 2026.

[3] Sanare Lab. 2026.

[4] Wroclaw Medical University. 2026.

[5] Kulkarni, Swanand et al. 2023.

[6] Cebeci, Emre et al. 2022.

[7] Omeroglu Ulu, Zehra et al. 2023.

[8] Shoba, Guido et al. 1998.