A Prospective Randomized Study Evaluating the Role of Oral Curcumin along with Chemoradiationin Management of Locally Advanced Head and Neck Carcinoma

Aim: This study was to evaluate the role of Curcumin along with or without chemoradiation in the management of locally advanced head and neck cancers (LHNC) in terms of tolerability, toxicity and response. Sixty treatment naive histopathologically proved cases LHNC were included in this prospective randomized study.

Materials and Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive radical external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with weekly cisplatin and capsule Curcumin from the first day of EBRT till the completion in the dose of 1gm every 8 hourly (Group I/Study Group) and EBRT with weekly cisplatin only (Group II/Control Group).

Results: There were lower grades of statistically insignificant haemoglobin (grade 2 p value- 0.300) and total leucocyte count (grade 1 p value- 0.313), toxicities in group II in compared to group I during treatment. The acute skin and mucosal reactions were less in group I than group II without any statistically significant association during treatment and follow ups. Statistically significant less blood urea (grade 1 p value- 0.019) toxicities observed in group I, in compared to group II during treatment. There were statistically significant fewer grade 3 and 4 vomiting (p value- 0.037) in group II. At one year follow up 67% was disease free in group I in comparison to 56% in group II.

Conclusion: Curcumin, in management of LHNC, seems to decreases haematological, renal, skin and mucosal chemoradiation induced toxicities results in timely completion of intended treatment without any financial burden on patients and improves the disease control.