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Table 2 Schedule of tests and procedures

From: Combining curcumin (C3-complex, Sabinsa) with standard care FOLFOX chemotherapy in patients with inoperable colorectal cancer (CUFOX): study protocol for a randomised control trial

Observation

Screening pre-curcumin

Week 1/curcumin loading

Week 3/before 2ndcycle

Week 5/before 3rdcycle

Week 24/after cycle 12 or withdrawal

Informed consent1

X

    

EORTC QLQ-C30

X

   

X

Curcumin questionnaire

X

   

X

Medical history

X

    

Physical examination

X

    

Weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse

X

 

X

X

X

ECOG performance status (Appendix 2)

X

   

X

12-lead electrocardiogram

X

    

Haematology, liver function, renal function2

X

Performed as routine prior to each cycle of FOLFOX

Urine sample (pregnancy test for female patients)

X

    

Tumour assessment3

X

3-monthly CT scan to 24 months.

6-monthly CT 24 to 48 months when appropriate

Serum CEA2

X

3-monthly CEA until CT scans end

Symptom diary

X

Daily for first 4 weeks

 

Neurotoxicity questionnaire

X

Questionnaire every 2 cycles, after cycle 12 or withdrawal

Blood samples for curcumin, platinum and biomarker analysis

X

X

X

X

X4

FOLFOX treatment5

 

Up to 12 cycles, at 2 week intervals

Survival

 

Continuously monitored once protocol therapy has ended6

  1. 1Can be obtained at any point prior to start of trial. 2Patients on folinic acid/5-fluorouracil/oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) chemotherapy will routinely have these blood tests done prior to each cycle. 3If no radiological assessment of disease (computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of chest, abdomen and pelvis) has been done within 28 days of screening, a trial baseline scan (CT/MRI of chest, abdomen and pelvis) must be completed within 28 days of the patient’s first cycle of chemotherapy. CT scans should be repeated every six cycles (12 weeks) during FOLFOX and then 3-monthly to 24 months and 6-monthly to 48 months. 4Research samples after final cycle should be as close to 14 days as possible, but more than 7 and can be arranged to coincide with the next clinic appointment. 5FOLFOX will be up to 12 cycles (approximately 24 weeks). Central line is placed prior to chemotherapy by trained staff. 6Direct patient involvement in the trial will cease after curcumin has been completed. Patient episodes following this will be confined to follow-up CT scans. Patients will remain in the standard care pathway. CEA, chorioembryonic antigen; ECOG, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; EORTC-QLQ30: European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire form 30.