Can acetylcysteine ameliorate cisplatin ‐induced toxicities and oxidative stress without decreasing antitumor efficacy? A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial involving patients with head and neck cancer

The use of antioxidants, such as acetylcysteine, in patients receiving chemotherapy is currently a hot topic in the literature. There are no studies in humans to verify the effect of acetylcysteine on toxicity, oxidative stress, and clinical response to cisplatin. This is the first randomized, double ‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial to investigate this issue. AbstractThe protective antioxidant activity of acetylcysteine (NAC) against toxicity due to cisplatin has been reported in experimental models; however, its efficacy in patients has not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective effect of NAC on cisplatin ‐induced toxicity and the effect of NAC on clinical response and oxidative stress in patients treated for head and neck cancer. This was a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial conducted in patients receiving high‐dose cisplatin chemotherapy concomitant to radiotherapy. Patients were randomly assigned to groups and received: (a) 600 mg NAC syrup, orally once daily at night for 7 consecutive days or (b) placebo, administered similarly to NAC. Nephro‐, oto‐, hepato‐, myelo‐, and gastrointestinal toxicities, clinical responses, and plasma and cellular markers of oxid ative stress were evaluated. Fifty‐seven patients were included (n = 28, NAC arm; and n = 29, placebo arm). A high prevalence of most types of toxicities was observed after cisplatin chemotherapy; however, the parameters were simila...
Source: Cancer Medicine - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL RESEARCH Source Type: research