title: Effect of concomitant use of pentoxifylline and alpha-tocopherol with radiotherapy on the clinical outcome of patients with stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer: a randomized prospective clinical trial.
abstract: We evaluated the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) and alpha-tocopherol on the clinical outcome of 66 patients with stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer in a randomized clinical trial. All patients received 46 Gy of external radiotherapy to the primary tumor and regional lymph nodes, with an additional 14-Gy dose to the primary tumor. Thirty-three of the 66 patients also received PTX (400 mg, three times daily) and alpha-tocopherol (300 mg, twice daily) during radiotherapy, followed by 400 mg of PTX and 300 mg of alpha-tocopherol daily for 3 mo after radiotherapy. The remaining 33 patients (control group) received radiotherapy only. After a mean follow-up time of 12 mo, 18 patients remained alive. During follow-up, there were local recurrences in 14 patients and distant metastases in 18 patients. In patients who received PXT and alpha-tocopherol, 1- and 2-yr overall survival rates were 55% and 30%, respectively, and median survival was 18 mo. In control patients, 1- and 2-yr overall survival rates were 40% and 14%, respectively, with a median survival of 10 mo. These differences were statistically significant (p = 0.0175). In patients who received PXT and alpha-tocopherol, progression-free survival rates for 1 and 2 yr were 48% and 23%, respectively; median survival was 12 mo. In the control group, the corresponding rates were 24% and 18%; median survival was 8 mo (p = 0.0223). We conclude that the use of PTX and alpha-tocopherol combined with radiotherapy offers a possible survival advantage in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Ankara Oncology Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cem H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Misirlioglu
authors.forename: Handan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Erkal
authors.forename: Yesim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Elgin
authors.forename: Isil
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ugur
authors.forename: Kadri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Altundag
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D015996:Survival Rate; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D010431:Pentoxifylline