Lycopene in treatment of high-grade gliomas: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
The therapeutic benefit of lycopene is well established for carcinoma prostate in various clinical trials and has been proposed for other malignancies including high-grade gliomas.


METHODS
Randomized placebo control study in the Department of Radiation Oncology of a teaching hospital.


METHODS
Fifty patients with high-grade gliomas were treated with surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and concomitant paclitaxel. Patients were randomized to receive either oral lycopene (Group A) 8 mg daily with radiotherapy or placebo (Group B). Pre-and post-radiotherapy plasma lycopene levels were measured using high-precision liquid chromatography. McDonald's criteria were used for response assessment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomograph (SPECT) were done three-monthly for two visits and six-monthly thereafter. Primary endpoint was response at six months post radiotherapy. Statistical Analysis Used : The data was analyzed using SPSS Software v10.0 (SPSS corporation Chicago IL) by applying Student's t-test, ANOVA F test, Chi-square test and Karl Pearson Correlation Coefficient.


RESULTS
Median age was 38 years. The commonest histology was glioblastoma multiforme (n = 32). Pre- and post-treatment plasma lycopene levels in the patients in Gropu A were 152 ng/ml and 316 ng/ml and in the patients in Group B were 93 ng/ml and 98 ng/ml (P = 0.009). There was non-significant differences in favor of lycopene between Group A and Group B with higher overall response at six months (P = 0.100), response at last follow-up (P = 0.171) and time to progression (40.83 vs. 26.74 weeks, P = 0.089)., The follow-up duration was significantly higher for Group A than Group B (66.29 vs. 38.71 weeks, P = 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Addition of nutrition supplements such as lycopene may have potential therapeutic benefit in the adjuvant management of high-grade gliomas.
Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110 029, India. tpuri90@gmail.com
Tarun
T
Puri
Shikha
S
Goyal
Pramod K
PK
Julka
Omana
O
Nair
Daya N
DN
Sharma
Goura K
GK
Rath
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005910:Glioma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011859:Radiography; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000975:Antioxidants; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene