Prevention of chemotherapy and radiation toxicity with glutamine.
OBJECTIVE
Malignancy produces a state of physiologic stress that is characterized by a relative deficiency of glutamine, a condition that is further exacerbated by the effects of cancer treatment. Glutamine deficiency may impact on normal tissue tolerance to antitumor treatment, and may lead to dose reductions and compromised treatment outcome. Providing supplemental glutamine during cancer treatment has the potential to abrogate treatment-related toxicity. We reviewed the available data on the use of glutamine to decrease the incidence and severity of adverse effects due to chemotherapy and/or radiation in cancer patients.


METHODS
We performed a search of the MEDLINE database during the time period 1980-2003, and reviewed the English language literature of both human and animal studies pertaining to the use of glutamine in subjects with cancer. We also manually searched the bibliographies of published articles for relevant references.


RESULTS
The available evidence suggests that glutamine supplementation may decrease the incidence and/or severity of chemotherapy-associated mucositis, irinotecan-associated diarrhea, paclitaxel-induced neuropathy, hepatic veno-occlusive disease in the setting of high dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation, and the cardiotoxicity that accompanies anthracycline use. Oral glutamine supplementation may enhance the therapeutic index by protecting normal tissues from, and sensitizing tumor cells to chemotherapy and radiation-related injury.


CONCLUSIONS
The role of glutamine in the prevention of chemotherapy and radiation-induced toxicity is evolving. Glutamine supplementation is inexpensive and it may reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal, neurologic, and possibly cardiac complications of cancer therapy. Further studies, particularly placebo-controlled phase III trials, are needed to define its role in chemotherapy-induced toxicity.
Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. dsavarese@uptodate.com
Diane M F
DM
Savarese
Gayle
G
Savy
Linda
L
Vahdat
Paul E
PE
Wischmeyer
Barbara
B
Corey
D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000009:adverse effects; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004064:Digestive System / Q000378:metabolism; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*
D018943:Anthracyclines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005973:Glutamine; D005978:Glutathione; D017239:Paclitaxel