Topical Curcumin for Precancer Cervical Lesions

Lisa Flowers

Status and phase

Terminated

Phase 2

Conditions

Neoplasms

Treatments

Drug: Placebo

Drug: Curcumin

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT02944578

IRB00079183

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to see if curcumin can reverse a cervical precancerous state by looking at people who have the condition and intervening with a study drug or placebo (an inactive drug), prior to planned therapeutic loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) which is a treatment procedure for removing cervical cancer. 40 women with high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) of the cervix will be enrolled to either insert 2000 mg capsule of curcumin or a placebo in their vagina once a week for 12 weeks. After a 4 week long washout period the participants will then undergo removal of the precancerous cells as recommended standard of care. Participants will have regular monthly visits for the duration of the study.

Full description

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. The causative agent responsible for cervical cancer is the persistent infection with oncogenic Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Rates of cervical cancer and HPV infection are increased in HIV-infected women due to immunosuppression and cervical cancer is an AIDS-defining diagnosis. Despite the promise of HPV vaccine in the prevention of cervical cancer, the widespread availability of this vaccine is limited due to cost and accessibility. Therefore, prevention strategies to reduce cervical cancer after HPV exposure entail treatment at the most severe premalignant state (high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or HSIL). As this procedure is expensive and not widely available in resource-limited areas there is a need for an inexpensive, non-invasive alternative method to treat these premalignant cervical lesions.

Curcumin, an extract from turmeric, a popular culinary spice, has been used in traditional Indian medicine for its anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious properties. Recent studies have shown the potential effect of curcumin to reduce tumors and precancerous lesions in animal and human cancer cells. It is postulated that curcumin achieves its effect on cancer cells by modulating different cellular pathways as well as altering HPV effect on tissue cells.

This study will explore the effect of curcumin as a potential medical treatment in HIV-infected women with HSIL lesions of the cervix. 40 women with high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) of the cervix will be enrolled to either insert 2000 mg capsule of curcumin or a placebo in their vagina once a week for 12 weeks. After a 4 week long washout period the participants will then undergo removal of the precancerous cells as recommended standard of care. Participants will have regular monthly visits for the duration of the study.

Enrollment

7 patients

Sex

Female

Ages

21+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

HIV positive women and HIV negative women
HSIL cytology with no invasive features identified on colposcopy or the baseline biopsy
Compliant on combined antiretrovirals (cART)
On continuous antiretrovirals with cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) count >200 cells/ml with sustained undetectable viral load for at least 3 months
Patient on reliable birth control. Adequate birth control includes: Combined oral contraceptive pill (OCP), Long Lasting Reversible Contraceptive (LARCP), BiLateral Tubal Ligation (BLT) and DepoProvera Shot/Birth control shot.
Patient willing to conform to the study requirements
No risk factors for microinvasive disease (no colposcopic features of microinvasion, adequate colposcopy and negative endocervical curettage)

Exclusion criteria