Topical Curcumin for Precancer Cervical Lesions

Biomolecular Effects of Topical Curcumin in HSIL Cervical Neoplasia

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Suspended
• Conditions: Neoplasms
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Curcumin; Drug: Placebo

Detailed 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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 40
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Georgia
    • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30303
      • Grady Memorial Hospital
    • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30308
      • Grady Hospital - Ponce De Leon Clinic

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

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:

• Lactating and pregnant women
• Patient with irregular cycles (more than once a month).
• Previous hysterectomy and/or prior treatment for cervical precancer condition

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Curcumin Arm; Participants in this arm will use 2000 mg of intravaginal curcumin once a week for 12 weeks.	Drug: Curcumin; Curcumin (Curcumin C3 Complex®, prepared by Sabinsa Corporation), a constituent of the spice turmeric, is considered to be a low-toxicity, dietary-derived agent with chemopreventive and therapeutic benefits. Study participants will be instructed to insert four 500 mg (2000 mg total) curcumin capsules once a week (excluding days when they are on their menses). Participants will insert the capsules using the vaginal applicator while lying on their back with their knees bent. Participants will be instructed to gently insert the capsules into the vagina as far as they will go comfortably, similar to a tampon insertion or other common intravaginal drugs. Cervical cytology, colposcopies and biopsies will be performed at the Baseline, Week 4, 8, 12 and 16 visits to collect samples to analyze for the study outcomes.; Other Names: Curcumin C3 Complex
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Arm; Participants in this arm will use 2000 mg of a placebo once a week for 12 weeks.	Drug: Placebo; Study participants randomized to the placebo arm will insert four 500 mg (2000 mg total) of the placebo (gelatin) capsules once a week (excluding days when they are on their menses). Participants will insert the capsules using the vaginal applicator while lying on their back with their knees bent. Participants will be instructed to gently insert the capsules into the vagina as far as they will go comfortably, similar to a tampon insertion or other common intravaginal drugs. Cervical cytology, colposcopies and biopsies will be performed at the Baseline, Week 4, 8, 12 and 16 visits to collect samples to analyze for the study outcomes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in human papillomavirus (HPV) related molecular target HPV E6/E7 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression within HSIL lesions of the cervix	Vaginal sampling and colposcopy with targeted cervical biopsies will be performed at each study visit. These samples will be used to determine the association between intravaginal curcumin on known HPV-related molecular target HPV E6/E7 mRNA expression within high grade squamous intraepithelial (HSIL) lesions of the cervix in HIV- infected women. The APTIMA® HPV Assay that will be utilized detects full-length HPV E6/E7 mRNA for HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, and 68 and correlates very well with integrated HPV, which in turn correlates with full-length HPV E6/E7 protein levels.	Baseline, Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Quantify curcumin levels in cervical tissue	Vaginal sampling and colposcopy with targeted cervical biopsies will be performed at each study visit. These samples will be examined to establish the level of curcumin penetration in cervical tissue, as well as the cumulative effect of daily curcumin over time.	Baseline, Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Explore the association between curcumin and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB)	Vaginal samples and cervical biopsies, obtained at each study visit, will be used to determine the association between curcumin and known biomarkers of cervical disease. This exploratory aim seeks to use repeated-measures analyses, utilizing a linear mixed model for the curcumin group to assess the association between nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and the concentration of curcumin at each time point. NF-κB upregulation is related to the grade of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) although the significance of NF-κB activation per se to CIN lesion development and its prognostic value in cervical cancer have not been well defined. The analysis of NF-κB binding activity will provide a direct molecular benchmark for assessing curcumin treatment responses independent from its therapeutic effects.	Baseline, Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16
Explore the association between curcumin and p16INK4a	Vaginal samples and cervical biopsies, obtained at each study visit, will be used to determine the association between curcumin and known biomarkers of cervical disease. This exploratory aim seeks to use repeated-measures analyses, utilizing a linear mixed model for the curcumin group to assess the association between p16INK4a and the concentration of curcumin at each time point. p16INK4a (a tumor suppressor protein) is an indirect marker of cell cycle dysregulation and has been shown to be expressed in cervical dysplasias and carcinomas associated with high risk HPV infections.	Baseline, Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16
Explore the association between curcumin and Rb	Vaginal samples and cervical biopsies, obtained at each study visit, will be used to determine the association between curcumin and known biomarkers of cervical disease. This exploratory aim seeks to use repeated-measures analyses, utilizing a linear mixed model for the curcumin group to assess the association between Rb and the concentration of curcumin at each time point. Rb is an important cell cycle regulator protein in cervical carcinogenesis which is suppressed in most cervical cancer cells. Increased levels of this protein has been linked to regression of cervical cancer lesions.	Baseline, Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16
Explore the association between curcumin and p53	Vaginal samples and cervical biopsies, obtained at each study visit, will be used to determine the association between curcumin and known biomarkers of cervical disease. This exploratory aim seeks to use repeated-measures analyses, utilizing a linear mixed model for the curcumin group to assess the association between p53 and the concentration of curcumin at each time point. p53 is an important cell cycle regulator protein in cervical carcinogenesis which is suppressed in most cervical cancer cells. Increased levels of this protein have been linked to regression of cervical cancer lesions.	Baseline, Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16
Explore the association between curcumin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)	Vaginal samples and cervical biopsies, obtained at each study visit, will be used to determine the association between curcumin and known biomarkers of cervical disease. This exploratory aim seeks to use repeated-measures analyses, utilizing a linear mixed model for the curcumin group to assess the association between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the concentration of curcumin at each time point. VEGF expression has been shown to correlate with severity of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) lesions and invasive disease.	Baseline, Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Emory University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Lisa Flowers, MD, Emory University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 20, 2017
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): January 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Anticipated): January 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 24, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 24, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): October 26, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 17, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 16, 2023
• Last Verified: March 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Cancer; HIV; Oncology; Infectious Diseases; HPV; Preventive Medicine
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Enzyme Inhibitors; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antirheumatic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Curcumin
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB00079183

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No