Abstract
Background
This is a Phase I trial demonstrating safety and tolerability of
intravaginal curcumin for future use in women with cervical neoplasia.
Objective
The objective of this study was to assess the safety, tolerability,
and pharmacokinetics of intravaginal curcumin in healthy women.
Study design
We conducted a 3+3 dose-escalation Phase I trial in a group
of women aged 18–45 years. Thirteen subjects were given one of four
doses of curcumin powder (500 mg, 1,000 mg, 1,500 mg, and 2,000 mg) packed
in gelatin capsules, which was administered intravaginally daily for 14
days. The primary end point for this study was safety based on severe
adverse events regarding laboratory toxicity, clinical findings, and
colposcopic abnormalities. We administered an acceptability questionnaire to
assess product experience and attributes.
Results
No dose-limiting toxicities (0/13) were experienced (95%
confidence interval: 0.0%–22.8%) in this study. The
pharmacokinetics data demonstrated that curcumin and curcumin conjugates
were not measurable in the serum and negligible in the urine of the study
participants. Although 23 adverse events occurred during the course of the
trial, all events were grade I based on the National Cancer Institute Common
Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 4.0 and were resolved by the
end of the study in an average of 9 days. Fifty-six percent of the adverse
events were related to the study drug, which included genital pruritus
(23% of subjects), vaginal discharge (100%), vaginal dryness
(15%), abnormal prothrombin (23%), and hypokalemia
(8%).
Conclusion
Intravaginal curcumin was well tolerated by all subjects and safe. In
this Phase I trial, there were no severe adverse events observed at any of
the administered dose levels. All adverse events were grade I and did not
result in early termination of the study. There was no evidence of systemic
absorption or significant local absorption of intravaginally administered
curcumin.
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