Abstract
pentoxifylline (PTX) and tocopherol (vitamin E) are antioxidants previously shown to be useful in combination in the treatment of late radiation induced toxicity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefit of combination therapy with carbogen pentoxifylline and tocopherol in the mitigation of late radiation effects. As the optimal duration of PTX and tocopherol treatment has not been fully established, we studied short versus extended treatment duration.we conducted a phase II prospective randomized study of short versus prolonged treatment with pentoxifylline (800 mg) and tocopherol (1000 IU) orally once daily in patients with grade three toxicity post-radical radiotherapy. In addition, all 18 patients received inhaled carbogen (95% O + 5% CO(2)) over 90 minutes, five days/week, for three weeks. The primary end point was improved in maximum Lent-Soma toxicity scores.maximum Lent-Soma scores improved in six of the 18 patients (response rate 33%). The proportion of patients responding to treatment in the prolonged treatment arm B was more than double than in the shorter arm A, but this did not reach statistical significance (p=0.321). Two patients who had prolonged treatment (arm B) had complete resolution of their symptoms, which was maintained at two and three year follow-ups.we recommend prolonged treatment for 12 months, with PTX and tocopherol in combination with carbogen therapy, in the management of late radiation effects.
Highlights
As cancer treatment outcomes improve, there is increased emphasis on reducing toxicity of treatment as part of an effort to broaden the therapeutic index of therapy
Late radiotherapy effects are a considerable source of symptomatic morbidity in survivors of cancer therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen has shown some efficacy in this area [4]
Summary
As cancer treatment outcomes improve, there is increased emphasis on reducing toxicity of treatment as part of an effort to broaden the therapeutic index of therapy. Late radiotherapy effects are a considerable source of symptomatic morbidity in survivors of cancer therapy. Traditionally considered progressive and irreversible, there is mounting evidence to support the potential reversibility and treatment of radiotherapeutic injury using antioxidant therapy [1,2]. There have been several reports in support of tocopherol and pentoxifylline (PTX) in the treatment of late radiation effects [1,2,3]. Carbogen is thought to act to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) by reversing tissue hypoxia and removing free radicals, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of late radiation effects [5]
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