Effects of soy isoflavenes (genistein) on chemotherapy and radiotherapy toxicities in childhood cancer patients.

Abstract

e20008 Background: Genistein, a soy isoflavone, has been shown to induce apoptosis and sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy and radiotherapy in a variety of cancer cell types. However, there is no previous report regarding its protective effect on side effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy in children with cancer. Methods: This study was designed to assess the effect of genistein on clinical or laboratory adverse effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in children with cancer. Cinical and laboratory findings were recorded for each child's no genistein first chemo cycle followed by chemotherapy cycles given with 8 mg/day genistein po. Six patients (ages 6-13 years) have been followed for 12-19 months. Diagnosis were: 2 neuroblastomas, one with metastatic Wilms' tumor, 1 patient with recurrent malignant mesenchimal tumor, 1 patient adrenocortical tumor and one patient with pons glioma. Cycles of chemo with OR no genistein have been analysed for mucositis, days with fever, duration of neutropenia, liver and kidney function tests, number of blood products suplementations. Results: Genistein is well tolerated in 57 chemo cycles in children with cancer. Serum genistein levels of patients during soy isoflavon supplementation (range: 0.215-0.411; median: 0.258 mg/L) were almost 2 times to 6 times higher than no supplementation genistein levels (range: 0.058–0.111; median 0.061 mg/L). Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest genistein may protect against chemotherapy and radiotherapy side effects in children with cancer. Comparison of the chemo cycles with or no genistein groups No genistein group(9 cycles) With genistein group (57 cycles) ANC Min-max(days) Median (days) Min-max(days) Median (days) ≤ 1500 0-14 8 0-17 4.5 ≤ 500 0-13 4 0-12 0 ≤ 100 0-6 3 0-8 0 Mucositis (grade I-IV) 0-4 3 0-3 0 Days with fever 0-5 2 0-4 0 Liver toxicity - 1 kolestasis Kidney toxicity - - Electrolite imbalance Hypopotasemia 3 4 Hyponatremia 2 Erithrocyte suppl. (unit) 0-4 1 0-5 0 Platelet suppl. (unit) 0-4 2 0-7 0 Antibiotic duration (days) 0-20 14 0-24* 0 GCSF supp. (days) 10-23 14 10-22 12 No significant financial relationships to disclose.