title: Effect of HMB/Arg/Gln on the prevention of radiation dermatitis in head and neck cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This prospective randomized Phase II study was designed to evaluate the preventive effect of an oral nutrition supplement composed of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, arginine and glutamine (beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate/arginine/glutamine) on radiation dermatitis in head and neck cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients with histologically proven head and neck cancer, treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy involving cisplatin were recruited. They were randomly assigned to the beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate/arginine/glutamine supplement treatment group (Group A) or the control group that received no supplement (Group B). The primary endpoint of this study was the percentage of patients developing ≥Grade 3 dermatitis. The secondary endpoints were the percentage of patients developing ≥Grade 2 dermatitis, and the duration of each grade of dermatitis relative to the observation period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of ≥Grade 3 dermatitis did not differ between the two groups. However, as secondary endpoints of this study, the incidence of ≥Grade 2 dermatitis was lower in Group A than B (62.6 vs. 94.4%; P < 0.05), and the duration of ≥Grade 1 dermatitis was shorter in Group A than B (44.8 vs. 56.7%; P < 0.01), as was the duration of ≥Grade 2 dermatitis (16.5 vs. 26.5%; P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicated that beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate/arginine/glutamine supplementation was potentially effective in the prevention of radiation dermatitis in head and neck cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Miyagi Cancer Center, Natori, Miyagi 981-1293, Japan. matsuura-ka447@miyagi-pho.jp.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Kazuto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Yukinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asada
authors.forename: Shun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sagai
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katagiri
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Rei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sadayasu
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saijo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011855:Radiodermatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014631:Valerates / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004151:Dipeptides; D014631:Valerates; C578860:arginyl-glutamine; C004961:beta-hydroxyisovaleric acid
keywords: HMB/Arg/Gln; chemoradiotherapy; dermatitis; head and neck cancer