Use of antioxidants during chemotherapy and radiotherapy should be avoided Journal Article
| Authors: | D'Andrea, G. M. |
| Article Title: | Use of antioxidants during chemotherapy and radiotherapy should be avoided |
| Abstract: | Many patients being treated for cancer use dietary supplements, particularly antioxidants, in the hope of reducing the toxicity of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Some researchers have claimed, furthermore, that antioxidants also increase the effectiveness of cytotoxic therapy and have explicitly recommended their use. However, mechanistic considerations suggest that antioxidants might reduce the effects of conventional cytotoxic therapies. Preclinical data are currently inconclusive and a limited number of clinical studies have not found any benefit. Clinicians should advise their patients against the use of antioxidant dietary supplements during chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Such caution should be seen as the standard approach for any unproven agent that may be harmful. © American Cancer Society, Inc., 2005. |
| Keywords: | cancer chemotherapy; cancer survival; survival rate; review; cytotoxic agent; placebo; advanced cancer; nonhuman; antineoplastic agents; cancer patient; cancer radiotherapy; combined modality therapy; drug megadose; neoplasms; colorectal cancer; cancer prevention; melanoma; breast cancer; radiotherapy; lung cancer; diet supplementation; prostate cancer; head and neck cancer; heart failure; cancer cell; vitamin supplementation; antioxidant; antioxidants; dietary supplements; alpha tocopherol; ascorbic acid; antioxidant activity; high risk population; retinol; mouth cancer; carotenoid |
| Journal Title: | CA - A Cancer Journal for Clinicians |
| Volume: | 55 |
| Issue: | 5 |
| ISSN: | 0007-9235 |
| Publisher: | Wiley-Blackwell |
| Date Published: | 2005-09-01 |
| Start Page: | 319 |
| End Page: | 321 |
| Language: | English |
| PUBMED: | 16166076 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 68" - "Export Date: 24 October 2012" - "CODEN: CAMCA" - "Source: Scopus" |
