The authors then conducted a phase I study testing the safety of
Theracurmin in patients with pancreatic cancer. A total of 16
patients (14 patients with pancreatic cancer and two patients with
biliary tract cancer) who had failed standard gemcitabine-based
chemotherapy were enrolled in the study. Based on their previous
pharmacokinetic study, the authors chose to use Theracurmin
containing 200 mg curcumin (level 1) as the starting dose.
Theracurmin was orally administered every day in combination
with standard gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. Ten patients
were assigned to the level 1 group and six to the level 2 group
(Theracurmin containing 400 mg curcumin).