A Phase 2, Double-blind, Randomized Study to Compare the Effect of Curcumin Versus Placebo on Inflammatory Cytokines, Symptoms and Disease Parameters in Clonal Cytopenia of Undetermined Significance (CCUS), Low-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (LR-MDS), and Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs)
This phase II trial evaluates how a curcumin supplement (C3 complex/Bioperine) changes the inflammatory response and symptomatology in patients with clonal cytopenia of undetermined significance (CCUS), low risk myelodysplastic syndrome (LR-MDS), and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Chronic inflammation drives disease development and contributes to symptoms experienced by patients with CCUS, LR-MDS, and MPN. Curcumin has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties and has been studied in various chronic illnesses and hematologic diseases.
• Age \>= 18
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) =\< 2
• Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent
• Diagnosis of polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocytosis (ET) or myelofibrosis (MF) per World Health Organization (WHO) 2016 diagnostic criteria
‣ Presence of at least one symptom measurable using the MPN-/Symptom Assessment Form (SAF) with a severity greater than 3
⁃ MPN patients determined to have stable disease undergoing surveillance and unlikely to require initiation of new cytoreductive therapy (i.e., hydroxyurea, ruxotinib, interferon within the study period); patients on a stable dose of hydroxyurea for at least 6 months who meet the other inclusion/exclusion criteria may be included
• A diagnosis of CCUS or LR-MDS
‣ CCUS defined as persistent cytopenia for \> 6 months (hemoglobin \[Hgb\] \< 11.3 g/dL \[7 mmol/L\] in women and Hgb \< 12.9 g/dL \[8 mmol/L\] in men, platelet \< 150 x 10\^9/L or neutrophils \< 1.8 x 10\^9/L), normal cytogenetics, presence of detectable MDS associated mutations and bone marrow morphology non-diagnostic of MDS or any other malignancies
⁃ LR-MDS as defined by WHO 2016 diagnosis criteria
⁃ Minimum baseline symptom score of 25 in the fatigue section of the symptom questionnaire