title: Increased survival of patients with end-stage hepatocellular carcinoma due to intake of ONCOXIN®, a dietary supplement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Treatment and management of patients with end-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a formidable challenge to contemporary branches of medical sciences. The study presented here was conducted to assess the utility of nutrient supplement, if any, for management of patients with end-stage HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 19 patients with end-stage HCC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer [BCLC] staging D) were provided with ONCOXIN® for 3 months. Another 10 patients with end-stage HCC (BCLC stage D) with similar clinical conditions received conservative management, but they did not give consent for taking ONCOXIN® (non-ONCOXIN® group). All patients of both groups were followed on regular basis until their death.
  
  
  METHODS
  The results were expressed as mean and standard deviation. Comparison between groups was performed using Student's t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test. For categorical data, Chi-square or Fisher exact test was applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients of the control group (non-ONCOXIN® group) (10 of 10 patients) died within 2 months after study commencement. On the other hand, 10 of 19 patients receiving ONCOXIN® died within 2 months (less than 53% patients) after the start of taking ONCOXIN® (P < 0.05, compared with patients of non-ONCOXIN® group). Five more patients died within 5 months after the start of intake of ONCOXIN®. Four patients receiving ONCOXIN® survived for more than 6 months after study commencement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this is a preliminary report, it inspires considerable optimism about safety and efficacy of a food supplement for management of patients with end-stage HCC.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Mahtab
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Toshiba General Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: S M F
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Akbar
authors.forename: M S I
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rahman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D058625:End Stage Liver Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants