A short-term dietary supplementation of high doses of vitamin E increases T helper 1 cytokine production in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Patients with advanced cancer exhibit multifaceted defects in their immune capacity, which are likely to contribute to an increased susceptibility to infections and disease progression and to constitute a barrier to immunotherapeutic interventions. A chronic inflammatory condition associated with increased oxidative stress has been suggested as one of the responsible mechanisms behind the tumor-induced immune suppression. We, therefore, speculated that supplementation with the antioxidant vitamin E could enhance the immune functions in patients with advanced cancer.


METHODS
This hypothesis was here tested in twelve patients with colorectal cancer (Dukes' C and D) who, prior to intervention with chemo- or radiotherapy, received a daily dose of 750 mg of vitamin E during a period of 2 weeks.


RESULTS
Short-term supplementation with high doses of dietary vitamin E leads to increased CD4:CD8 ratios and to enhanced capacity by their T cells to produce the T helper 1 cytokines interleukin 2 and IFN-gamma. In 10 of 12 patients, an increase of 10% or more (average, 22%) in the number of T cells producing interleukin 2 was seen after 2 weeks of vitamin E supplementation, as compared with peripheral blood monocyte samples taken before treatment (P = 0.02). Interestingly, there seemed to be a more pronounced stimulatory effect by vitamin E on naïve (CD45RA(+)) T helper cells as compared with T cells with a memory/activated phenotype.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary vitamin E may be used to improve the immune functions in patients with advanced cancer, as a supplement to more specific immune interventions.
Malmberg
Karl-Johan
KJ
Cancer Center Karolinska, Immune and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, S-17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
Lenkei
Rodica
R
Petersson
Max
M
Ohlum
Tomas
T
Ichihara
Fumiko
F
Glimelius
Bengt
B
Frödin
Jan-Erik
JE
Masucci
Giuseppe
G
Kiessling
Rolf
R
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology*; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000975:Antioxidants; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014810:Vitamin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D001205:Ascorbic Acid