Abstract
Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer may lower muscle protein synthesis and increase oxidative stress. We hypothesize that chemotherapy may worsen plasma amino acids (AAs) and markers of oxidative stress (MOS). Therefore, this study aimed to document plasma AAs and MOS before, during and after chemotherapy in colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery patients. Fourteen normal-weight CRC patients were enrolled one month after surgery and scheduled for oxaliplatin-fluoropyrimidine combination (XELOX) therapy. Venous blood samples for AA and MOS (malondialdehyde, MDA; 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine, 8-OHdG) measurements were drawn in fasting patients before each oxaliplatin infusion at initiation (A), 1 month (B) and 3 months (C) of the therapy, and after XELOX had finished (6 months, D). The results showed that during XELOX therapy (from phase B to phase D), in comparison to baseline (phase A), the branched chain amino acid/essential amino acid ratio, branched chain amino acids expressed as a percentage of total AAs, and arginine expressed as a percentage of total AAs significantly decreased (p = 0.017, p = 0.028, p = 0.028, respectively). Plasma levels of MOS did not change significantly. This study indicates that XELOX therapy does not affect plasma AA levels or worsen oxidative stress.
Highlights
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide, the fourth cause of cancer-related deaths [1], and is expected to increase by 60% by 2030 [2]
The study showed that throughout the XELOX therapy cycle plasma amino acid levels (PAL) and markers of oxidative stress (MOS) showed no significant changes compared to the values observed in the pre-XELOX therapy phase (A) (Table 3)
The branched chain amino acid/essential amino acid ratio (BCAAs/essential amino acids (EAAs)) (Table 3), branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) expressed as a % of total amino acids (TAAs) and arginine expressed as a % of TAAs (Table 4) were shown to be significantly lower than in the pre-XELOX therapy phase (p = 0.017, p = 0.028, p = 0.028, respectively)
Summary
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide, the fourth cause of cancer-related deaths [1], and is expected to increase by 60% by 2030 [2]. CRC recurrence is still a major concern [3,4]. The treatments for CRC include surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, which are invasive treatments often associated with adverse side effects. Have been identified as a possible target for immunotherapy in microsatellite instability (MSI) tumors among CRC subtypes [5]. Nutrients 2019, 11, 2667 and repair inhibitors, which have positively impacted disease outcomes. Despite these therapeutic approaches, the prognosis remains poor for most CRCs, especially when relapsed
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