Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised phase II trial of IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) in patients with radiation-induced breast induration.
OBJECTIVE
Tissue hardness (induration), pain and tenderness are common late adverse effects of curative radiotherapy for early breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) in patients with tissue induration after high-dose radiotherapy for early breast cancer in a double-blind placebo-controlled randomised phase II trial.


METHODS
Sixty-six eligible research volunteers with moderate or marked breast induration at a mean 10.8 years since radiotherapy for early breast cancer were randomised to active drug (n = 44) or placebo (n = 22). All patients were given grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) 100 mg three times a day orally, or corresponding placebo capsules, for 6 months. The primary endpoint was percentage change in surface area (cm(2)) of palpable breast induration measured at the skin surface 12 months after randomisation. Secondary endpoints included change in photographic breast appearance and patient self-assessment of breast hardness, pain and tenderness.


RESULTS
At 12 months post-randomisation, > or =50% reduction in surface area (cm(2)) of breast induration was recorded in 13/44 (29.5%) GSPE and 6/22 (27%) placebo group patients (NS). At 12 months post-randomisation, there was no significant difference between treatment and control groups in terms of external assessments of tissue hardness, breast appearance or patient self-assessments of breast hardness, pain or tenderness.


CONCLUSIONS
The study failed to show efficacy of orally-administered GSPE in patients with breast induration following radiotherapy for breast cancer.
Department of Radiotherapy, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, UK.
Sonja
S
Brooker
Susan
S
Martin
Ann
A
Pearson
Debasis
D
Bagchi
Judith
J
Earl
Lone
L
Gothard
Emma
E
Hall
Lucy
L
Porter
John
J
Yarnold
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D056604:Grape Seed Extract; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012598:Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017211:Treatment Failure
D000975:Antioxidants; D056604:Grape Seed Extract; C511402:Grape Seed Proanthocyanidins; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts; D044945:Proanthocyanidins