ABSTRACT
AIM AND BACKGROUND: Intestinal alkalization could prevent irinotecan associated diarrhea modulating some chemical equilibria between irinotecan metabolites. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of this procedure in advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients (GICP). MATERIALS AND METHOD: In this prospective study advanced GICP, receiving irinotecan based chemotherapy regimens, were well trained to add sodium bicarbonate to the water intake in order to accomplish intestinal alkalization. RESULTS: A total of twenty four advanced GICP were enrolled. Grade III-IV diarrhea has been observed in four patients (16%), some of whom had several risk factors for diarrhea. Only one out of seventeen colorectal cancer patients, receiving the irinotecan combination as first line therapy, had grade III-IV diarrhea. No side effects of the procedure have been appreciated. CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal alkalization may be effective as a preventive treatment for irinotecan associated diarrhea in chemotherapy regimens used in GICP. This procedure deserves further investigation.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/adverse effects , Camptothecin/analogs & derivatives , Diarrhea/chemically induced , Diarrhea/prevention & control , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/drug therapy , Sodium Bicarbonate/therapeutic use , Adult , Aged , Camptothecin/adverse effects , Female , Humans , Irinotecan , Male , Middle Aged , Pilot Projects , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
No disponible
Aim and background. Intestinal alkalization couldprevent irinotecan associated diarrhea modulatingsome chemical equilibria between irinotecan metabolites.The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacyof this procedure in advanced gastrointestinalcancer patients (GICP).Materials and method. In this prospective studyadvanced GICP, receiving irinotecan based chemotherapyregimens, were well trained to add sodiumbicarbonate to the water intake in order to accomplishintestinal alkalization.Results. A total of twenty four advanced GICP wereenrolled. Grade III-IV diarrhea has been observedin four patients (16%), some of whom had severalrisk factors for diarrhea. Only one out of seventeencolorectal cancer patients, receiving the irinotecancombination as first line therapy, had grade III-IVdiarrhea. No side effects of the procedure have beenappreciated.Conclusions. Intestinal alkalization may be effectiveas a preventive treatment for irinotecan associateddiarrhea in chemotherapy regimens used in GICP.This procedure deserves further investigation
