title: Cod skin peptide reduces chemotherapy-induced toxicity in gastric cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of cod skin peptide (CSPE) on chemotherapy-induced toxicity in gastric cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 60 gastric cancer patients for chemotherapy was randomly divided into two groups (n=30 per group), who were orally treated with either supplemental CSPE or placebo apart from chemotherapy. The hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicities experienced by the patients, as well as their Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) as an index of quality of life was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Leukocyte counts and haemoglobin levels were significantly reduced in the group treated with peptide (p<0.05), while gastrointestinal toxicity was not affected (p>0.05). KPS consists of 11 categories of quality of life, and the score denoted in deciles ranges from 100 (asymptomatic, normal function) to 0 (death). The KPS score is used to evaluate a cancer patient's ability to function at work and home, the severity of symptoms, and the patient's need for personal and medical care. Treatment with CSPE significantly improved the quality of life of patients, as indicated by increased KPS scores (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CSPE can potentially be considered as a food supplement that can be used to improve the quality of life of cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: The Department of General Surgery, Zhoushan Hospital, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: The Department of General Surgery, Zhoushan Hospital, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Fei
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: The Department of Oncology, People's Hospital of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Ping
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: The Department of Oncology, People's Hospital of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: The Department of Oncology, People's Hospital of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: The Department of General Surgery, Zhoushan Hospital, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China. Email: 13615800815@126.com.
authors.forename: Guo-Qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D048388:Gadiformes; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D011788:Quality of Life; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006454:Hemoglobins; D010455:Peptides; D010919:Placebos