Study to See How Safe Curcumin is and How Well it Works When Used to Treat Mucositis in Patients Getting Chemotherapy

A Phase I/II Study to Determine the Safety and Efficacy of Curcumin in Patients With Oral Mucositis Secondary to Chemotherapy

Oral mucositis is a common side effect from cancer treatment. Patients receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy can get very painful sores in their mouth that compromise nutrition and oral hygiene as well as increase risk for infection, and can last for weeks. Currently, the only treatment for mucositis is oral hygiene to try to support recovery.

Curcumin (also known as Turmeric) is a frequently-used spice in India and Southeast Asia. Studies in cells and animals have shown that it can reduce the amount of bacteria and can prevent inflammation.

In this study, the investigators want to learn if a mouthwash made with curcumin is safe for people to use and if it can help their mucositis.

This is a phase I/II study involving 2 parts; a dose escalation to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of curcumin and an expansion at the MTD.

Oral mucositis is a common and often debilitating complication associated with cancer treatment. Treatment of mucositis is mainly supportive - oral hygiene is the means of treatment. Curcumin (Turmeric), a frequently-used spice in India and Southeast Asia, can reduce bacterial load and prevent inflammation in cultured epithelial cells and prevent chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced mucositis in animal models.

The primary objective of this Phase I/II study is to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of oral curcumin in patients who have chemotherapy-induced mucositis. The secondary objectives of this study are to determine whether or not oral curcumin has an acceptable safety profile or impacts oral mucositis health outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• ≥ grade 2 oral mucositis related to chemotherapy for cancer
• Ability to understand and the willingness to review and sign a written informed consent document.
• ≥ 18 years of age
• Willingness to use adequate contraception prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation and for 30 days after the last dose for women of child-bearing potential and men

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current use of therapeutic doses of anticoagulants such as warfarin or antiplatelet agents (prophylactic doses and agents are acceptable)
• Biliary tract obstruction or cholelithiasis
• History of gastric or duodenal ulcers or hyperacidity syndromes
• AST or ALT > 2 x ULN
• Total bilirubin ≥ 2 x ULN
• INR > 1.5
• Previous stem cell transplant (allogeneic or autologous)
• Preexisting oral disease, such as active oral infection, trauma to the oral mucosa or oral - ulceration prior to chemotherapy
• Known allergy/hypersensitivity to curcumin, yellow food coloring, or other members of the - Zingiberaceae (ginger) family
• Pregnant or breastfeeding