Lack of Relationship of Egg White Intake with Occurrence of Leukopenia in Gynecologic Cancer Patients during Chemotherapy.

Egg white intake during chemotherapy is common advice for cancer patients for the prevention of leukopenia. However, the benefit is uncertain. We conducted this prospective study to identify the relationship of egg white intake for gynecologic cancer patients who received carboplatin and paclitaxel and the occurrence of leukopenia. Between January 2014 and January, 2015, 81 patients were interviewed regarding their intake of egg whites before receiving subsequent chemotherapy. The basic data, the details of egg white intake and the grade of leukopenia in the previous cycle were recorded. The mean age was 54.1 years and 80% of the patients had a diagnosis of ovarian or endometrial cancer. The patients were interviewed at cycles 1-3 in 45 cases, 4-6 in 45 cases and 7-9 in two cases. Subsequent dose reduction was found in 6.2% and granulocyte-stimulating growth factors was given at 4.9%. All the patients ate egg whites with variations in the number of eggs per day as follows: less than one (3), one to two (56), three to four (14) and five to six (8). Over 70% were recommended by nurses to eat egg whites and about 63% of patients received other supplemental food. Some 44.1% of the patients who ate less than or equal to two eggs per day and 36.4% who ate more than two eggs per day developed grade 2-4 leukopenia, P = 0.61. In conclusion, the data did not provide evidence in support of the conclusion that a greater egg white intake could significantly reduce the occurrence of leukopenia.

Comparison of oral versus intravenous ramosetron in prevention of acute cisplatin-induced emesis: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the antiemetic efficacy of a single oral versus intravenous (i.v.) ramosetron, a new class of selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, in gynecologic cancer patients receiving high-dose cisplatin. METHOD: Between February 2003 and July 2003, 109 patients with gynecologic cancer scheduled to receive single agent cisplatin chemotherapy at a dose of 75 mg/m2 were randomized to receive either 0.2 mg oral (51 cases) or 0.3 mg i.v. (58 cases) ramosetron 1 h and 30 min respectively before chemotherapy. Patients were evaluated for 24 h after chemotherapy. The number of nausea and vomiting including adverse events were recorded every 6 h. RESULTS: 51 and 58 patients received oral and i.v. ramosetron respectively. Both groups were similar regarding age, performance status, body mass index and diagnosis of gynecologic cancer. 95 per cent of cases were cervical cancer. Antiemetic effect was significantly higher in the oral group when compared with the i.v. group during the first 6 hours and during the period of 18 to 24 hours after administration of cisplatin chemotherapy. Overall in 24 h, patients receiving oral ramosetron experienced no emesis slightly higher than that of the i.v. group (55% and 36% respectively, p = 0.05). Adverse events were mild and transient and were not significantly different in both groups, except tiredness which was more frequent in the i.v. group. CONCLUSION: Oral ramosetron at a dosage of 0.2 mg is as effective as 0.3 mg of intravenous ramosetron in prevention of acute emesis in patients receiving 75 mg/m2 of cisplatin chemotherapy.