curcumin for the chemoprevention of colorectal cancer

Conditions: Adenomatous Polyps

Summary: specific aims: * to determine if curcuminoids modulate cellular proliferation as measured by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (pcna) in the colorectal mucosa of subjects with previously resected adenomatous colonic polyps. hypothesis: curcuminoids decrease cellular proliferation in the colorectal mucosa of subjects with previously resected sporadic adenomatous colonic polyps. * to determine if curcuminoids modulate apoptosis, as measured by tunel assay, in the colorectal mucosa of subjects with previously resected adenomatous colonic polyps. hypothesis: curcuminoids increase apoptosis in colorectal mucosa of subjects with previously resected sporadic adenomatous colonic polyps. * to determine if curcuminoids modulate cox-2 expression as measured by immunohistochemical assays in subjects with previously resected adenomatous colonic polyps hypothesis: curcuminoids decrease colorectal mucosa cox-2 expression in subjects with previously resected sporadic adenomatous colonic polyps. * to determine if curcuminoids modulate cox-2 activity as measured by urinary eicosanoids hypothesis: curcuminoids decrease concentrations of urinary eicosanoids.


Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * age\>18 * a diagnosis for colon/rectal polyp resection, polypectomy * subjects must be able to have the capacity and must be willing to provide informed consent * premenopausal women must be surgically incapable of childbearing or be using a medically acceptable method of contraception (oral contraceptives, diaphragms, condoms with spermicide, iud, progesterone injection or implant) throughout the entire length of the study * men should wear condoms during the duration of the study given the unknown effects of curcumin on sperm viability, fertility exclusion criteria: * previous or current history of colorectal cancer * previous history of familial polyposis syndromes * previous history of inflammatory bowel disease * previous surgery of the large bowel * liver disease defined as ast and alt\>3x upper limit of normal * known history of gallstones, biliary colic or serum bilirubin \>2.0 * cardiac disease including myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia * renal disease defined as creatinine \>1.5 * hematopoietic disease defined as wbc\<4000, platelet count \<100,000, hemoglobin\<10.0 or coagulation or bleeding disorder * significantly impaired gastrointestinal function or absorption * peptic ulcer disease * active infection including viral, bacterial, atypical or fungal infections of any organ system including hiv * previous history of allergy to turmeric, indian curries, aspirin or nsaids * pregnant or lactating women * dementia or other neurologic or psychiatric disease which may impede the ability to follow the protocol * inability to swallow pills * prior or concurrent therapy with any herbal or dietary supplement containing curcuminoids * concurrent use of anticoagulants or antiplatelets including warfarin, clopidogrel * prior or concurrent use of colorectal cancer chemopreventive agents including herbals: sulindac or other nsaids, aspirin, cox-2 inhibitors, 5-aminosalicylate, folate, calcium, or their use within 14 days of enrollment * concurrent use of immunosuppressants

Keywords: curcumin chemoprevention adenomatous polyps colorectal cancer