Should supplemental antioxidant administration be avoided during chemotherapy and radiation therapy? Journal Article
| Authors: | Lawenda, B. D.; Kelly, K. M.; Ladas, E. J.; Sagar, S. M.; Vickers, A.; Blumberg, J. B. |
| Article Title: | Should supplemental antioxidant administration be avoided during chemotherapy and radiation therapy? |
| Abstract: | Despite nearly two decades of research investigating the use of dietary antioxidant supplementation during conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy, controversy remains about the efficacy and safety of this complementary treatment. Several randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that the concurrent administration of antioxidants with chemotherapy or radiation therapy reduces treatment-related side effects. Some data indicate that antioxidants may protect tumor cells as well as healthy cells from oxidative damage generated by radiation therapy and some chemotherapeutic agents. However, other data suggest that antioxidants can protect normal tissues from chemotherapy- or radiation-induced damage without decreasing tumor control. We review some of the data regarding the putative benefits and potential risks of antioxidant supplementation concurrent with cytotoxic therapy. On the basis of our review of the published randomized clinical trials, we conclude that the use of supplemental antioxidants during chemotherapy and radiation therapy should be discouraged because of the possibility of tumor protection and reduced survival. © The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press. |
| Keywords: | cancer chemotherapy; cancer survival; treatment outcome; leukemia; survival rate; mutation; clinical trial; neutropenia; squamous cell carcinoma; cisplatin; doxorubicin; fluorouracil; placebo; drug withdrawal; side effect; solid tumor; unspecified side effect; note; gemcitabine; paclitaxel; cancer radiotherapy; pancreas cancer; cytarabine; methotrexate; drug megadose; neurotoxicity; antineoplastic agent; evidence-based medicine; neoplasms; colorectal cancer; cell proliferation; carboplatin; unindexed drug; low drug dose; apoptosis; controlled clinical trial; multiple cycle treatment; ovary cancer; breast cancer; bone marrow suppression; etoposide; blood toxicity; esophagitis; lung non small cell cancer; mucosa inflammation; neuropathy; randomized controlled trial; stomatitis; thrombocytopenia; antineoplastic combined chemotherapy protocols; drug administration schedule; weight reduction; randomized controlled trials as topic; lung cancer; combination chemotherapy; vincristine; diet supplementation; irinotecan; asthenia; drug dose escalation; prostate cancer; sarcoma; dysphagia; odynophagia; phenobarbital; head and neck cancer; folinic acid; cardiotoxicity; glioblastoma; mitoxantrone; lymphoma; brain metastasis; xerostomia; bleomycin; stomach cancer; epirubicin; mitomycin c; radiosensitivity; antioxidant; oxidative stress; antioxidants; dietary supplements; alpha tocopherol; ascorbic acid; antioxidant activity; navelbine; cystitis; oxaliplatin; lung fibrosis; beta carotene; pelvis cancer; amifostine; radiation pneumonia; ototoxicity; thorax cancer; acetylcysteine; estramustine; melatonin |
| Journal Title: | JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute |
| Volume: | 100 |
| Issue: | 11 |
| ISSN: | 0027-8874 |
| Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
| Date Published: | 2008-06-04 |
| Start Page: | 773 |
| End Page: | 783 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1093/jnci/djn148 |
| PUBMED: | 18505970 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 66" - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "CODEN: JNCIA" - "Source: Scopus" |
