title: The effects of enteral glutamine on radiotherapy induced dermatitis in breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radiotherapy is a critical component of breast cancer treatment. Many skin reactions ranging from erythema to moist desquamation and ulceration can be induced by high dose external beam radiotherapy. There is no golden standard for treating radiation dermatitis. Glutamine is an amino acid which improved wound healing through its anabolic effects and improvements in wound matrix formation in burn patients. We designed a study to show effects of glutamine in radiation induced dermatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients who received radiotherapy for breast cancer were randomized into 2 groups. In group 1 the patients were treated with 15 gr of enteral glutamine whereas the patients in group 2 were treated with placebo. The radiation induced skin reactions were evaluated in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In glutamine treated group 88, 9% of patients developed grade I toxicity comparing to 80% of patients in placebo group developed grade II toxicity. This difference between the groups was statistically significant. (p < 0.001) CONCLUSION: Enteral glutamine minimizes radiation induced dermatitis.
authors: Kanuni Research and Training Hospital, Dept of Radiation Oncology, Trabzon, Turkey. Electronic address: ekucuktulu@yahoo.com.
authors: Kucuktulu
authors: K
authors: Eda
authors: Kanuni Research and Training Hospital, Dept of General Surgery, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors: Kucuktulu
authors: K
authors: Uzer
authors: Karadeniz Technical University Medical School, Department of Public Health, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors: Topbas
authors: T
authors: Murat
authors: 9 Eylul University Medical School, Department of Radiation Oncology, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Umay
authors: U
authors: Cenk
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011855:Radiodermatitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005973:Glutamine
keywords: Dermatitis; Glutamine; Radiotherapy