The effect of oral curcumin on vincristine-induced neuropathy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract Background Peripheral neuropathy is a major adverse effect of Vincristine (VCR) in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. Curcumin can prevent the development of many neurological diseases. Method This clinical trial study was conducted on 141 pediatric ALL patients, all ove...

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Main Authors: Aziz Eghbali, Mahsa Adibifar, Ali Ghasemi, Roghayeh Rahimi Afzal, Katayoun Moradi, Aygin Eghbali, Foroozan Faress, Kazem Ghaffari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:BMC Cancer
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13751-7
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author Aziz Eghbali
Mahsa Adibifar
Ali Ghasemi
Roghayeh Rahimi Afzal
Katayoun Moradi
Aygin Eghbali
Foroozan Faress
Kazem Ghaffari
author_facet Aziz Eghbali
Mahsa Adibifar
Ali Ghasemi
Roghayeh Rahimi Afzal
Katayoun Moradi
Aygin Eghbali
Foroozan Faress
Kazem Ghaffari
author_sort Aziz Eghbali
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Peripheral neuropathy is a major adverse effect of Vincristine (VCR) in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. Curcumin can prevent the development of many neurological diseases. Method This clinical trial study was conducted on 141 pediatric ALL patients, all over 5 years old. The subjects were randomly divided into a curcumin-treatment group and a placebo group. In the curcumin-treatment group, patients received 3 mg/kg oral curcumin capsules twice a day for 3 months. In the placebo cohort, participants were administered placebo capsules twice a day for 3 months. Administration of VCR was started in all patients in both groups, with a weekly dose of 1.5 mg/m2. Result Overall, 39.4% of participants in the curcumin treatment group and 70.0% in the placebo group had VIPN. Thus, a significant difference in the incidence of VIPN was observed in the two groups (P < 0.001). A significantly higher frequency of motor nerve abnormalities in all types of nerves was observed in the placebo group than in the curcumin treatment group (P < 0.05). Conclusions The results of our study showed that curcumin is effective in preventing the development of VIPN and leads to the improvement of VIPN in these patients. Our findings indicate that the prevalence of VIPN was substantially lower in the curcumin-treated group compared to the placebo group, as confirmed by both NCS and EMG assessments. Furthermore, curcumin demonstrated a protective effect against motor and sensory nerve damage, with a significant reduction in motor nerve abnormalities. Trial registration This study was registered at https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/73161 . Trial registration number: IRCT20201107049296N3. Date of registration: 2022-09-11.
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spelling doaj-art-17a828fda2814329b050cdacb1939d912025-08-20T03:46:04ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072025-02-012511910.1186/s12885-025-13751-7The effect of oral curcumin on vincristine-induced neuropathy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trialAziz Eghbali0Mahsa Adibifar1Ali Ghasemi2Roghayeh Rahimi Afzal3Katayoun Moradi4Aygin Eghbali5Foroozan Faress6Kazem Ghaffari7Clinical Research Development Center of Aliasghar Hospital, Iran University of Medical SciencesClinical Research Development Center of Aliasghar Hospital, Iran University of Medical SciencesCancer Research Center, Semnan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Pediatrics, Amir Kabir Hospital, Arak University of Medical SciencesNeuromusculoskeletal Research Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical SciencesSchool of Medicine, Iran University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Hematology and Blood Transfusion Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Peripheral neuropathy is a major adverse effect of Vincristine (VCR) in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. Curcumin can prevent the development of many neurological diseases. Method This clinical trial study was conducted on 141 pediatric ALL patients, all over 5 years old. The subjects were randomly divided into a curcumin-treatment group and a placebo group. In the curcumin-treatment group, patients received 3 mg/kg oral curcumin capsules twice a day for 3 months. In the placebo cohort, participants were administered placebo capsules twice a day for 3 months. Administration of VCR was started in all patients in both groups, with a weekly dose of 1.5 mg/m2. Result Overall, 39.4% of participants in the curcumin treatment group and 70.0% in the placebo group had VIPN. Thus, a significant difference in the incidence of VIPN was observed in the two groups (P < 0.001). A significantly higher frequency of motor nerve abnormalities in all types of nerves was observed in the placebo group than in the curcumin treatment group (P < 0.05). Conclusions The results of our study showed that curcumin is effective in preventing the development of VIPN and leads to the improvement of VIPN in these patients. Our findings indicate that the prevalence of VIPN was substantially lower in the curcumin-treated group compared to the placebo group, as confirmed by both NCS and EMG assessments. Furthermore, curcumin demonstrated a protective effect against motor and sensory nerve damage, with a significant reduction in motor nerve abnormalities. Trial registration This study was registered at https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/73161 . Trial registration number: IRCT20201107049296N3. Date of registration: 2022-09-11.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13751-7CurcuminAcute lymphoblastic leukemiaPediatricsVincristineNeuropathy
spellingShingle Aziz Eghbali
Mahsa Adibifar
Ali Ghasemi
Roghayeh Rahimi Afzal
Katayoun Moradi
Aygin Eghbali
Foroozan Faress
Kazem Ghaffari
The effect of oral curcumin on vincristine-induced neuropathy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial
BMC Cancer
Curcumin
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Pediatrics
Vincristine
Neuropathy
title The effect of oral curcumin on vincristine-induced neuropathy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial
title_full The effect of oral curcumin on vincristine-induced neuropathy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial
title_fullStr The effect of oral curcumin on vincristine-induced neuropathy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial
title_full_unstemmed The effect of oral curcumin on vincristine-induced neuropathy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial
title_short The effect of oral curcumin on vincristine-induced neuropathy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial
title_sort effect of oral curcumin on vincristine induced neuropathy in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia a double blind randomized controlled clinical trial
topic Curcumin
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Pediatrics
Vincristine
Neuropathy
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13751-7
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