A pilot study on the relation between cisplatin neuropathy and vitamin E.
Peripheral sensory neuropathy is the main non-hematological side-effect related to cisplatin chemotherapy. The strong similarity between clinical and neuropathological aspects in peripheral neuropathy induced by cisplatin and neurologic syndromes due to vitamin E deficiency, prompted us to investigate the relationship between cisplatin neuropathy and plasmatic level of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol). We measured vitamin E in the plasma of 5 patients (Group 1) which developed severe neurotoxicity after cisplatin treatment and in another group of 5 patients (Group 2) we analyzed the plasmatic level of vitamin E before and after 2 or 4 cycles of cisplatin treatment. The results showed that the patients of group 1 presented low plasmatic levels of vitamin E and that the patients of group 2 presented significantly lower levels of vitamin E after 2 or 4 cycles of cisplatin than before treatment. Our preliminary data suggest that an inadequate amount of the antioxidant vitamin E due to cisplatin treatment could be responsible of the peripheral nerve damage induced by free-radicals. Given the lack of toxicity of vitamin E, we need to systematically assess the possible neuroprotective role of vitamin E supplementation in patients treated with cisplatin chemotherapy.
Bove
L
L
Service of Neurology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
Picardo
M
M
Maresca
V
V
Jandolo
B
B
Pace
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014810:Vitamin E; D002945:Cisplatin