The effect of oral β-glucan on mucositis and leukopenia in colorectal cancer patients receiving adjuvant FOLFOX-4 combination chemotherapy.

Abstract

e20603 Background: β-glucans have antibacterial, immunomodulator and anti-cancer effects. The present study aimed to determine the effect of oral β-glucan on mucositis and leukopenia in a group of colorectal cancer patients with a high risk for neutropenia and mucositis who received adjuvant FOLFOX-4 (oxaliplatin, 5-flourouracil, and folinic acid) combination chemotherapy. Methods: This retrospective study included 62 patients with colorectal cancer that underwent a FOLFOX-4 treatment regimen between July 2009 and July 2010. Ethics committee of Erciyes University approved the study design. Colorectal cancer patients treated with a FOLFOX-4 regimen were retrospectively evaluated in 2 equal groups: One group received β-glucan (treatment group), and the other did not (control group). In both groups the level of leucocytes, neutrophils, and platelets were evaluated before and 1 week after chemotherapy. The occurrence of oral mucositis and diarrhea was noted. Data were statistically analyzed. Results: There were 21 male and 10 female patients in the treatment group, and the median age was 61 years (range: 43-72 years). The control group included 17 male and 14 female patients, and the median age was 55 years (range: 30-78 years). There weren't any statistically differences in age or gender between the 2 groups. Leucocyte and neutrophil counts after chemotherapy in the treatment group were 7300/mm3 and 3800/mm3, respectively, and the reductions, as compared to baseline, were not significant (p = 0.673 and 0.784). The median platelet count was 264000/mm3 after chemotherapy in the treatment group and the reduction, as compared to baseline, was borderline significant (p = 0.048). In the control group the reduction in leucocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts was statistically significant (median values were 5600/mm3, 2880/mm3, and 229000/mm3, respectively; p < 0.01). In addition, oral mucositis and diarrhea secondary to chemotherapy were less common in the treatment group (19% v.s 42%). Conclusions: β-glucan effectively suppressed the adverse effects of chemotherapy. We think that nutritional supplementation with β-glucan in cancer patients should be investigated further.