Dietary supplementation with L-arginine in patients with breast cancer (> 4 cm) receiving multimodality treatment: report of a feasibility study

L-Arginine has been shown, in human breast cancers, to increase protein synthesis and the number of cells in the growth phase of the cell cycle. L-Arginine, therefore, may potentiate the response of breast cancers to cell cycle-specific cytotoxic agents. This phase II pilot study assessed the clinic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of cancer 1994-05, Vol.69 (5), p.918-921
Main Authors: BRITTENDEN, J, HEYS, S. D, MILLER, I, SARKAR, T. K, HUTCHEON, A. W, NEEDHAM, G, GILBERT, F, MCKEAN, M, AH-SEE, A. K, EREMIN, O
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Antineoplastic agents
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use
Arginine - administration & dosage
Biological and medical sciences
Breast Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging
Breast Neoplasms - metabolism
Breast Neoplasms - pathology
Breast Neoplasms - therapy
Combined Modality Therapy
Combined treatments (chemotherapy of immunotherapy associated with an other treatment)
Cyclophosphamide - administration & dosage
Doxorubicin - administration & dosage
Feasibility Studies
Female
Humans
Mammography
Mastectomy
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Staging
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Prednisone - administration & dosage
Radiotherapy Dosage
Ultrasonography
Vincristine - administration & dosage
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Summary:L-Arginine has been shown, in human breast cancers, to increase protein synthesis and the number of cells in the growth phase of the cell cycle. L-Arginine, therefore, may potentiate the response of breast cancers to cell cycle-specific cytotoxic agents. This phase II pilot study assessed the clinical, radiological and pathological responses in 44 patients with breast cancers > 4 cm in diameter (46 tumours: T2, n = 6; T3, n = 22; T4, n = 19), who received oral L-arginine 30 g day-1 for 3 days prior to each cycle of CHOP chemotherapy, followed after 4-6 cycles by radiotherapy. Following this treatment, 95% of patients had a clinical response: complete response in 30% and partial response in 65%. Imaging, ultrasound and mammography revealed response rates of 91% and 76% respectively. Surgery was performed in 43 patients. Histological examination revealed that in 18% of cases there was no residual evidence of tumour. Furthermore, if residual tumour was identified, the degree of destruction was graded as 'severe' in 36% and 'moderate' in 30% of cases. Further studies are now required to evaluate the potential beneficial use of nutritional pharmacology in combination with existing treatment regimens.
ISSN:0007-0920
1532-1827
DOI:10.1038/bjc.1994.177