Abstract 7462: Interventional dietary saffron drives antitumor immunity inInterventional dietary saffron drives antitumor immunity in high risk colorectal cancer IBD Patients, A Multisite Clinical Trial Study
Authors: Ashktorab Hassan , Salmanroghani Roham , Salmanroghani Hassan , Oskrochi Reza , Rashid Mudasir , Laiyemo Adeyinka , Challa Suryanarayana Reddy , Oppong-Twene Philip , Farjana Nasrin , Kibreab Angesom , Maeker Holden , Amin Amr , Mohamed Amal Ahmed , Elsayed Amr , Zaki Zaki Mohamed , Mohamed Omima , Hassnine Alshymaa , Saed Salma , Hassanin Soha , Aduli Farshad , Chirumamilla Lakshmi Gayathri , Brim Hassan 
Published: March 2024

Background: Inflammatory polyps in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) pose a significant risk for colorectal cancer (CRC). Dietary interventions targeting anti-tumor immunity are crucial in mitigating this risk.

Aim: We investigated saffron's anti-inflammatory effects in IBD patients due to the high prevalence of polyps, aiming to prevent CRC.

Methods: The study retrospectively evaluated 485 colitis patients (70 IBD, 415 NIC) from Howard University Hospital, through colonoscopy, pathology, and clinical reports evaluations. At Howard University, three UC patients received 50mg of saffron twice daily for 8 weeks, with two cycles. Inflammatory markers, stool calprotectin, and cytokines were assessed. Similar saffron trials were conducted at Yazd University (30 UC patients) and Egypt University (11 UC patients).

Results: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were found to have a 15.7% prevalence of polyps compared to 8.2% in Non-inflammatory colitis patients. Among IBD patients, those with ulcerative colitis had more polyps (27%) than those with Crohn's disease (5%). In a multisite clinical trial, Saffron treatment improved various health indicators, including Partial MayoScore and quality of life. In the study (HU site), pro-inflammatory cytokines decreased, anti-inflammatory markers increased, and fecal calprotectin levels dropped significantly after saffron treatment. Saffron also led to changes in gut bacteria composition. Importantly, no adverse events were reported in the study participants. In one group of patients (Yazd study), saffron treatment led to significant improvements in depression scores, disease severity, and inflammation markers. In another site (Egypt study), 50% of saffron-treated patients showed improvement in markers related to disease severity, inflammation, and quality of life.

Conclusion: Saffron supplementation, alongside standard treatments, shows promise in reducing local and systemic inflammation in IBD patients and may reduce the risk of developing inflammatory polyps and hence CRC. This safe and feasible intervention warrants further exploration as an inflammation-driven CRC preventive strategy.

Citation Format: Hassan Ashktorab, Roham Salmanroghani, Hassan Salmanroghani, Reza Oskrochi, Mudasir Rashid, Adeyinka Laiyemo, Suryanarayana Reddy Challa, Philip Oppong-Twene, Nasrin Farjana, Angesom Kibreab, Holden Maeker, Amr Amin, Amal Ahmed Mohamed, Amr Elsayed, Zaki Mohamed Zaki, Omima Mohamed, Alshymaa Hassnine, Salma Saed, Soha Hassanin, Farshad Aduli, Lakshmi Gayathri Chirumamilla, Hassan Brim. Interventional dietary saffron drives antitumor immunity inInterventional dietary saffron drives antitumor immunity in high risk colorectal cancer IBD Patients, A Multisite Clinical Trial Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 7462.