title: Efficacy and safety profile of amifostine in the preoperative combined therapy of esophageal cancer patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the protective effect and the safety profile of amifostine in 16 esophageal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemo-radiation therapy (group A) compared to 21 matched patients (group B), treated with the same schedule without receiving amifostine, and considered as controls. Haematological and extra-haematological toxicity were evaluated according to WHO criteria and considered as result of amifostine activity. The bone marrow toxicity was globally lower in group A than in group B. We recorded 4 cases of mucosities in group B compared to 1 case in group A. amifostine-related side effects were few (2 cases of hypotension and 1 of vomiting), mild, and well controlled. In conclusion, amifostine seems to be effective and safe when used as protective agent also in esophageal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine <F. Magrassi>, Second University of Naples School of Medicine, C/o II Policlinico, I-80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orditura
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Vita
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ciaramella
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Musicò
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrigno
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Formato
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abbate
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Diadema
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Catalano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004999:Amifostine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D004999:Amifostine; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil