MedPath

Combining Curcumin With FOLFOX Chemotherapy in Patients With Inoperable Colorectal Cancer

Phase 1
Completed
Conditions
Colonic Cancer
Metastasis
Interventions
Drug: Chemotherapy only
Drug: Oral complex C3 curcumin + chemotherapy
Registration Number
NCT01490996
Lead Sponsor
University of Leicester
Brief Summary

Oral curcumin (complex C3, Sabinsa Corp, Utah) will be given to patients with inoperable colorectal metastases who will be commencing standard care oxaliplatin-based (FOLFOX) chemotherapy for up to 12 cycles(approximately 6 months) of treatment.

Primary measurements focus on safety and tolerability. These will be recorded in real-time and report the number and severity of adverse events.

Secondary measurements will include efficacy, (measured by response rate with RECIST and overall survival in months) supported by biomarker analysis.

Detailed Description

Hypothesis Combination of oral curcumin with FOLFOX-based chemotherapy will be a safe and tolerated regimen for long-term administration to patients with colorectal metastases.

Primary objectives

To establish a tolerated dose of daily oral curcumin to be taken long-term with FOLFOX-based chemotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer will be conducted to assess:

1. Safety, tolerability and feasibility of administering oral curcumin at increasing doses escalating to 4 capsules (≈2 g C3-complex) during FOLFOX-based chemotherapy and continued for the duration of the chemotherapy course.

Secondary objectives

1. To observe any changes to the neuropathic side-effects of chemotherapy.

2. To observe potential for efficacy in terms of disease response and survival.

3. To identify putative biomarkers in plasma.

This is a phase I/IIa study:

Phase I will be a traditional escalation response design study (or 3+3+3) to firstly assess the safety of this combination and identify a maximum tolerated dose up to 4 g per day.

Phase IIa will be a randomised control study comparing curcumin and FOLFOX with FOLFOX alone, recruited at a 2:1 ratio respectively.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
41
Inclusion Criteria
  • Histological or cytological diagnosis of metastatic colorectal cancer
  • Measurable disease by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) (Appendix 1)
  • Adequate haematological, hepatic and renal function
  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance status 0 or 1
  • Patients must have recovered from effects of any recent major surgery
  • Willing to use contraception if applicable
  • Informed consent
  • Life expectancy estimated to be more than 12 weeks
Exclusion Criteria
  • Main exclusion criteria
  • Contraindications to FOLFOX chemotherapy: Peripheral neuropathy NCI CTC >1, Liver failure, uncontrolled coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction within the previous 6 months.
  • Unwilling or unable to comply with the study protocol.
  • Patients who are pregnant or lactating or contemplating pregnancy. Patients or their partners who become pregnant during the study will be referred to the appropriate experts.
  • Undergone chemotherapy (other than adjuvant for CRC) or participating in another drug study.
  • Previous cancer <5 years (other than colorectal, basal cell carcinoma, in-situ cervical cancer).
  • Major surgery within 4 weeks of starting the study
  • Co-existing active infection or serious concurrent medical condition
  • Significant cardiovascular disease
  • Bone metastases
  • Known brain or leptomeningeal metastases
  • Surgery or hospital admissions for symptomatic intra-abdominal adhesions
  • Active endoscopically proven peptic ulcer disease or colitis

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Chemotherapy onlyChemotherapy onlyPatients receiving up to 12 cycles of therapy. Standard care pathway management.
Chemotherapy plus curcuminOral complex C3 curcumin + chemotherapyPatients taking daily oral curcumin for up to 12 cycles of therapy. Standard care pathway management.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Completion of dose escalation over 2 cycles of therapy1 year

Patients will start curcumin a week prior to chemotherapy. Upon completion of two cycles of therapy without dose-limiting toxicity in 3 consecutive patients, the dose will be escalated for the next 3 patients. Real-time adverse event reporting will be undertaken to record number and severity of events.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Completion of (or withdrawal from) chemotherapyUp to 6 months

Compliance in the study will be measured in months/cycles of therapy tolerated. Reasons for withdrawal or cessation will be documented which will include mortality, adverse events and patient reported outcomes of tolerance to the protocol regimen.

Efficacy in terms of disease response and survivalUp to 7 years

Response rate will be measured using RECIST. Overall survival will be measured in months.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Dept Oncology, Leicester Royal Infirmary

🇬🇧

Leicester, United Kingdom

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath