[Primary assessment of treatment effect of thymosin alpha1 on chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity].
OBJECTIVE
Clinical trails showed that thymosin alpha1 offers protection from toxicities (nausea, vomiting, fatigue) of chemotherapy. This study was designed to investigate the protection of thymosin alpha1 to nervous system.


METHODS
Twenty-two patients with advanced lung cancer, or advanced breast cancer were treated with vinorelbine (25 mg/m(2), d(1), d(8)) combined with cisplatin (80 mg/m(2), d(1)), or gemcitabine (1.25 g/m(2), d(1), d(8)) combined with cisplatin (80 mg/m(2), d(1)),or paclitaxel (80 mg/m(2), d(1), d(8), d(15)) combined with carboplatin (AUC=6 d(1)),or paclitaxel (80 mg/m(2), d(1), d(8), d(15)) combined with epirubicin (80 mg/m(2), d(1)). They all experienced grade 2 to 4 of neurotoxicities according to common toxicity criteria of National Cancer Institute after chemotherapy. The same chemotherapy regimens were combined with thymosin alpha1 (1.6 mg/d for 4 days before chemotherapy, and 1.6 mg twice weekly for 1-3 weeks after chemotherapy began) in the next cycle. Clinical neurologic evaluation was performed at baseline every week.


RESULTS
In 10 patients (45.4%), neurotoxicities reduced from grade 2-4 before chemotherapy to less than grade 2 after chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Thymosin alpha1 may prevent patients from chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicities.
An
Tong-Tong
TT
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Oncology, Peking University, Beijing, 100036, P.R.China.
Liu
Xu-Yi
XY
Fang
Jian
J
Wu
Mei-Na
MN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003248:Constipation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018476:Hypokinesia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077596:Thymalfasin; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013947:Thymosin; D000077596:Thymalfasin