The Radioprotective Effects of Nano-Curcumin Against Genotoxicity Induced by Iodine-131 in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma (DTC) by Micronucleus Assay

Abstract

Background: Iodine-131 therapy is one of the main strategies in the treatment of thyroid diseases such as hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. Iodine-131 emits high-energy beta particles and gamma rays. Although this technique is considered safe, there are many in vivo and in vitro studies reporting genotoxic damage induced by I-131. Induction of oxidative stress is one of the main mechanisms of therapeutic plan with I-131 and also mentioned as a side effect of it. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Nano-curcumin on chromosomal damages in peripheral blood lymphocyte by micronuclei (MN) assay in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) after therapeutic dose of I-131 as a clinical trial. Methods: Twenty-one patients with DTC treated with I-131, activity (5.5 GBq) for destructing remnant thyroid functional tissue, were randomly selected to receive curcumin (nano-form, 160 mg/day for 10 days; n = 11) or placebo (n = 10) in a double-blind manner. We obtained blood samples from each patient before treatment and one week after radioiodine therapy. We calculated the number of MN in blood samples. The present study is the first clinical trial for investigating curcumin effectiveness to reduce genotoxicity effects by radiation after radioiodine therapy. Results: The frequency of MN in lymphocyte was significantly increased at one week after I-131 treatment in placebo and curcumin groups. The frequency of MN in the curcumin group was significantly lower than placebo group after I-131 therapy. Nevertheless, there were no significant differences between both groups in White Blood Cell (WBC), Red Blood Cell (RBC), platelets, and hemoglobin level at before and after I-131 therapy. Conclusions:The results of this study confirm that the administration of curcumin to the patients, in nano-micelle form, may prevent the genetic damage induced by I-131 in human lymphocyte.

Medical and pharmacokinetic effects of nanopolyphenols: A systematic review of clinical trials

“…Nanocurcumin was administered to patients with different types of cancers, including thyroid carcinoma and head and neck cancer. The effect of nanocurcumin on chromosomal damages in peripheral blood lymphocyte by micronuclei assay in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma after therapeutic dose of I‐131 was assessed (Farhadi, Bakhshandeh, Shafiei, Mahmoudzadeh, & Hosseinimehr, 2018). It was found that the frequency of micronuclei in the nanocurcumin group was significantly lower after iodine‐131 therapy compared to the control group.…”

“…Adverse events reported after the use of nanopolyphenols in the included studies were minimal. Of the 18 studies that provided this information, a total of 12 studies reported no adverse effects during or after treatment (Abdolahi et al., 2018; Afshar et al., 2020; Alizadeh et al., 2018; Amorndoljai et al., 2017; Delavarian et al., 2019; Dolati, Aghebati‐Maleki et al., 2018; Farhadi et al., 2018; Gallelli et al., 2020; Hashemzadeh et al., 2020; Javadi et al., 2019; Parohan et al., 2019; Sasaki et al., 2011). Mild adverse events reported include stomachache (Asadi et al., 2019; Asadi, Gholami, Siassi, Qorbani et al., 2019) and nausea (Jazayeri‐Tehrani et al., 2019).…”

Radiosensitization and Radioprotection by Curcumin in Glioblastoma and Other Cancers

“…Curcumin may also protect lymphocytes, the most RT-susceptible type of blood cells against genotoxicity. When 21 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma were treated with I-131 (activity 5.5 GBq), and then received curcumin at a dosage of 160 mg/day for 10 days, exhibited a significantly lower frequency of micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes compared to the placebo group [ 75 ]. In another study, human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBLs) were treated with increased curcumin concentrations (0.125–50 µg/mL) prior to exposure to 3 Gy of γ-radiation.…”

Does nano‐curcumin supplementation improve hematological indices in critically ill patients with sepsis? A randomized controlled clinical trial

“…Required energy of patients was provided by enteral nutrition (Karen Company, Iran) (Table 1) through nasogastric tube and whenever the gastric residual volume exceeded 150 ml, prokinetic agents were administered. For 10 consecutive days, two nano-curcumin capsules per day (80-mg capsules comprised of 72% curcumin, 25% de-methoxy-curcumin, and 3% bis-desmethoxycurcumin) and two placebo capsules per day (80-mg capsules made of polysorbate) were respectively administered to the patients in the intervention and placebo groups (Farhadi et al, 2018). The capsules were dissolved in the water and given to the patients after gavage at 9 AM and 10 PM.…”