Sucralfate does not ameliorate acute radiation proctitis: randomised study and meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
During pelvic radiotherapy, many patients develop radiation-induced gastrointestinal symptoms, which may interfere with treatment. Prophylaxis during radiotherapy should ideally prevent acute reaction and the development of delayed injury. Sucralfate, an aluminium sucrose octasulphate, has been used for acute and delayed radiation side-effects. However, conflicting results have been published. We report here a prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled study of prophylactic sucralfate during pelvic radiotherapy. In addition, a meta-analysis of available data from the literature has been carried out.


METHODS
Fifty-one patients with localised pelvic tumours scheduled for curative conformal pelvic radiotherapy (total dose 64-70 Gy over 6.5-7 weeks in 2 Gy daily fractions) were included. Peroral sucralfate 2 g three times daily, or identically appearing placebo tablets, was given during the course of radiotherapy. Symptom registration, endoscopy and biopsies were carried out immediately before radiotherapy, 2 weeks and 6 weeks into the treatment course, and 2 weeks after completing radiotherapy. Mucosal cup forceps biopsies were obtained through a rigid proctoscope. Graded endoscopic appearance and quantitative histology were registered.


RESULTS
On the basis of previously published negative reports, an unplanned interim analysis of 44 evaluable patients showed significantly increased diarrhoea in the sucralfate group and the trial was stopped. No difference was seen in other symptoms, endoscopic appearance or histology. A meta-analysis comprising five published studies showed no statistically significant beneficial effect of sucralfate on acute symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Sucralfate cannot be recommended for prophylaxis of acute radiation proctopathy and may even worsen the symptoms.
Hovdenak
N
N
Division of Gastroenterology, Section of Oncology, Haukeland University Hospital, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. nils.hovdenak@helse-bergen.no
Sørbye
H
H
Dahl
O
O
D000208:Acute Disease; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011349:Proctitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013392:Sucralfate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D013392:Sucralfate