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Oral curcumin for radiation dermatitis: a URCC NCORP study of 686 breast cancer patients

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Abstract

Purpose

Despite advances in medical technology, radiation dermatitis occurs in 95% of patients receiving radiation therapy (RT) for cancer. Currently, there is no standard and effective treatment for the prevention or control of radiation dermatitis. The goal of the study was to determine the efficacy of oral curcumin, one of the biologically active components in turmeric, at reducing radiation dermatitis severity (RDS) at the end of RT, using the RDS scale, compared to placebo.

Methods

This was a multisite, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of 686 breast cancer patients. Patients took four 500-mg capsules of placebo or curcumin three times daily throughout their prescribed course of RT until 1 week post-RT.

Results

A total of 686 patients were included in the final analyses (87.5% white females, mean age = 58). Linear mixed-model analyses demonstrated that curcumin did not reduce radiation dermatitis severity at the end of RT compared to placebo (B (95% CI) = 0.044 (− 0.101, 0.188), p = 0.552). Fewer curcumin patients with RDS > 3.0 suggested a trend toward reduced severity (7.4 vs. 12.9%, p = 0.082). Patient-reported changes in pain, symptoms, and quality of life were not statistically significant between arms.

Conclusions

Oral curcumin did not significantly reduce radiation dermatitis severity compared to placebo. The skin rating variation and broad eligibility criteria could not account for the undetectable therapeutic effect. An objective measure for radiation dermatitis severity and further exploration for an effective treatment for radiation dermatitis is warranted.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the FDA IND 75,444, the National Institutes of Health PHS grant R25CA102618 (Cancer Control research), and UG1CA189961 (NCORP).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 697, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA

    Julie Ryan Wolf & Alice P. Pentland

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    Julie Ryan Wolf & Marilyn Ling

  3. URCC NCORP Research Base, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    Julie Ryan Wolf, Charles E. Heckler, Joseph J. Guido, Anita R. Peoples & Gary R. Morrow

  4. Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    Charles E. Heckler, Joseph J. Guido & Gary R. Morrow

  5. Department of Anesthesiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    Jennifer S. Gewandter

  6. North Shore-LIJ Cancer Institute, New Hyde Park, NY, USA

    Vincent P. Vinciguerra

  7. Columbus NCORP, Columbus, OH, USA

    Thomas Anderson

  8. Southeast Clinical Oncology Research Consortium, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    Lisa Evans

  9. Heartland NCORP, Decatur, IL, USA

    James Wade

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  1. Julie Ryan Wolf
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julie Ryan Wolf.

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Conflict of interest

None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to disclose. I (JRW) have full control of all primary data and agree to allow the journal to review the data if requested.

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Ryan Wolf, J., Heckler, C.E., Guido, J.J. et al. Oral curcumin for radiation dermatitis: a URCC NCORP study of 686 breast cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 26, 1543–1552 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3957-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3957-4

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