The use of antioxidant therapies during chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
At the present time, many cancer patients combine some form of complementary and alternative medicine therapies with their conventional therapies. The most common choice of these therapies is the use of antioxidants.


RESULTS
A review of four common antioxidants is undertaken, which includes vitamin E (mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols), beta-carotene (natural mixed carotenoids), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and vitamin A (retinoic acid). Antioxidants act as electron acceptors as well as therapeutic biologic response modifiers. Despite the fact that chemotherapy-induced formation of free radicals is well-demonstrated, chemotherapy-induced cytotoxicity in general does not seem to depend on formation of reactive oxygen species.


CONCLUSIONS
Currently, evidence is growing that antioxidants may provide some benefit when combined with certain types of chemotherapy. Because of the potential for positive benefits, a randomized controlled trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of adding antioxidants to chemotherapy in newly diagnosed ovarian cancer is underway at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Drisko
Jeanne A
JA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA. jdrisko@kumc.edu
Chapman
Julia
J
Hunter
Verda J
VJ
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants