A study looking at curcumin to help prevent bowel cancer

Please note this trial is no longer recruiting patients.

This study is looking at the possibility of giving curcumin capsules to people with bowel cancer or bowel polyps to help prevent bowel cancer growing or coming back.

Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. Curcumin is a natural substance found in the spice turmeric, a spice used in curries. Cultures that use a lot of turmeric in their cooking seem to have a low amount of bowel cancer in the population. The curcumin in turmeric may be one reason for this.

Laboratory studies have also shown that curcumin may help stop bowel cancer cells growing.

Doctors are always looking for ways to stop bowel cancer growing or coming back after surgery and they think curcumin may help. In this study, researchers will give curcumin capsules to people having a procedure to look for bowel polyps or having surgery to remove bowel cancer. The aims of the study are to find out

How much curcumin is absorbed by the body
If taking 5 capsules of curcumin a day is acceptable to people

Recruitment

Start 01/08/2009

End 01/05/2010

Phase

Pilot

Who can enter

You can enter this trial if you

Are having surgery to remove bowel cancer or a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy to look for bowel polyps
Are at least 18 years old
Are willing to use reliable contraception if there is any chance you or your partner could become pregnant

You cannot enter this trial if you

Have had a stomach ulcer in the past 12 months except an ulcer caused by the bacteria, Helicobacter pylori, which was successfully treated
Have had radiotherapy to the area between your hips (your pelvis)
Have another medical condition that could affect you taking part in this trial
Have had another drug as a part of a clinical trial in the last 3 months

Trial design

This is a pilot study. It will recruit 30 people in the UK who are having surgery for bowel cancer and people having a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy to look for bowel polyps. Everyone taking part takes curcumin capsules. You take the first dose of 5 capsules in the clinic, when you agree to take part in the study. On the day before your sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy or surgery you take 5 capsules in the morning and you also take 5 capsules in the evening.

You fill in a questionnaire, after taking your first dose and on the day of your sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy or surgery. It asks about your experience of taking the capsules.

On the day before your sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy or surgery you collect all the urine you pass. This is called a 24 hour urine collection. The hospital will provide all the equipment and information you need to do this at home. You bring this in with you on the day of the procedure. The researchers will use it to measure the amount of curcumin in your urine.