Curcumin Biomarker Trial in Head and Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Subjects with newly diagnosed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx or larynx and have at least one accessible tumor * Subjects willing to undergo tumor biopsies * Subjects willing to refrain from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) * Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group (ECOG) status of 0-3 * Absolute Neutrophil Count ≥ 1500/mm³, Hgb ≥ 10g/dl and Platelet count ≥ 150,000 mm3 * Adequate Renal Function: serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN). Adequate hepatic function: total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × ULN, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.0 × ULN * Signed and dated institutional review board approved informed consent form before any protocol specific procedures are performed * Willingness of subjects who are not surgically sterile or postmenopausal to use reliable methods of birth control for the duration of the study and for 2 weeks after last dose of study drug * No consumption of curcumin-rich foods to subject's knowledge within the previous 48 hours * Age ≥ 18 years to ≤ 90 years Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects receiving anticoagulation therapy * Known hypersensitivity to curry or black pepper * Prior cancer therapy in the last 30 day * Concurrent chemotherapy or radiation * Severely immunocompromised subjects * Subjects known to be HIV positive * any major illness that, in the investigator's judgment, will substantially increase the risk asociated with the subject's participation in the study * Pregnant or nursing women * Unwillingness or inability to comply with required study visits and procedures in this protocol