Oops, you're using an old version of your browser so some of the features on this page may not be displaying properly.

MINIMAL Requirements: Google Chrome 24+Mozilla Firefox 20+Internet Explorer 11Opera 15–18Apple Safari 7SeaMonkey 2.15-2.23

ePoster Display

1679P - A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized phase IIa trial, evaluating the effect of curcumin for the treatment of cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome in patients with stage III-IV head and neck cancer (CurChexia)

Date

16 Sep 2021

Session

ePoster Display

Topics

Supportive Care and Symptom Management;  End-of-Life Care;  Clinical Research

Tumour Site

Head and Neck Cancers

Presenters

Tawasapon Thambamroong

Citation

Annals of Oncology (2021) 32 (suppl_5): S1175-S1198. 10.1016/annonc/annonc714

Authors

T. Thambamroong, S. Saichaemchan, K. Seetalarom, N. Prasongsook

Author affiliations

  • Division Of Medical Oncology, Department Of Medicine, Phramongkutklao Hospital and College of Medicine, 10400 - Bangkok/TH

Resources

Login to access the resources on OncologyPRO.

If you do not have an ESMO account, please create one for free.

Abstract 1679P

Background

Cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CAS) is a significant comorbidity in all cancer patients that increase the mortality rate. Almost all head and neck cancer (HNC) patients suffered from this syndrome. CAS causes increased energy expenditure by increased systemic inflammation and decreased energy consumption due to anorexia. This leads to skeleton muscle breakdown and affects the quality of life. Nutritional interventions and cancer treatment are the mainstays to treat this situation. However, a vicious cycle causes CAS to persist, especially in HNC, where tumor location and its treatment interfere with nutritional intervention. Curcumin shows the effect of anti-inflammatory effects, including modulated CAS in animal and in vitro studies.

Methods

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase IIa study. 20 patients with CAS in locally advanced or advanced HNC adequately fed via a feeding tube were enrolled and randomized in 1:1 to receive oral curcumin (at a dose of 4000 mg daily) or placebo for 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was body composition (muscle mass, body fat mass, basal metabolic rate; BMR). The secondary endpoints were handgrip strength, BMI, absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), safety, and toxicity.

Results

There is a statistically significant benefit from curcumin on improvement of muscle mass compared to placebo (2.16% [95% CI, -0.75 to 5.07] vs -3.82% [95% CI, -8.2 to 0.57]; P = 0.019). The other parameters of body compositions are not statiscally significant but tend to favor curcumin benefit. The body fat mass (-0.51 [95% CI, -21.89 to 20.86] vs -8.97% [95% CI, -19.43 to 1.49]; P = 0.432) and the BMR (0.54% [95% CI, -1.6 to 2.67] vs -1.61% [95% CI, -4.05 to 0.84]; P = 0.153). Notably, patients with curcumin showed less reduction in handgrip strength and ALC but this was not statiscally significant. Most adverse events were grade 1 in both groups similarly.

Conclusions

The curcumin add-on resulted in a significant increase in muscle mass over standard nutritional support. Furthermore, it may improve and delay a decrease in the other body compositions, handgrip strength, and ALC. Curcumins were safe and well-tolerated.

Clinical trial identification

NCT04208334.

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential, while others help us improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used.

For more detailed information on the cookies we use, please check our Privacy Policy.

Customise settings
  • Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and you can only disable them by changing your browser preferences.