title: Tissue effects of glutamine in rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim was to evaluate the effects of glutamine on tumor regression and histological damage in patients with rectal patients following chemoradiotherapy previous to surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with rectal cancer surgically removed after chemoradiotherapy were included, a subgroup of a randomized trial that compared glutamine and placebo in the prevention of acute radiation enteritis. Samples of neoplasm and healthy tissue were evaluated by an expert pathologist searching for signs of tumor regression, muciphages, and signs of radiation-induced damage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in the grade of tumor regression with either glutamine or placebo. All patients who received glutamine presented muciphages, compared with 28.6% of the placebo group (p = 0.038). Histological damage was similar in patients receiving glutamine or placebo, and between those with radiation enteritis or without toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glutamine did not exert a protective effect over chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer or healthy rectal tissue.
authors: Sección de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León.. avcyo@hotmail.com.
authors: Alfonso
authors: A
authors: Vidal-Casariego
authors: Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León.. avcyo@hotmail.com.
authors: Mercedes
authors: M
authors: Hernando-Martín
authors: Sección de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León.. avcyo@hotmail.com.
authors: Alicia
authors: A
authors: Calleja-Fernández
authors: Sección de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León.. avcyo@hotmail.com.
authors: Isidoro
authors: I
authors: Cano-Rodríguez
authors: Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de A Coruña. Spain.. avcyo@hotmail.com.
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Cordido
authors: Sección de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León.. avcyo@hotmail.com.
authors: María D
authors: MD
authors: Ballesteros-Pomar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004751:Enteritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005973:Glutamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D005973:Glutamine