Study to See How Safe Curcumin is and How Well it Works When Used to Treat Mucositis in Patients Getting Chemotherapy

This is a phase I/II study involving 2 parts; a dose escalation to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of curcumin and an expansion at the MTD. Oral mucositis is a common and often debilitating complication associated with cancer treatment. Treatment of mucositis is mainly supportive - oral hygiene is the means of treatment. Curcumin (Turmeric), a frequently-used spice in India and Southeast Asia, can reduce bacterial load and prevent inflammation in cultured epithelial cells and prevent chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced mucositis in animal models. The primary objective of this Phase I/II study is to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of oral curcumin in patients who have chemotherapy-induced mucositis. The secondary objectives of this study are to determine whether or not oral curcumin has an acceptable safety profile or impacts oral mucositis health outcomes.