Antioxidants may reduce chemo effects
Published: June 1, 2007 at 4:37 PM
EVANSTON, Ill., June 1 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say antioxidants may reduce the toxic side effects of chemotherapy.
The report, which is to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago next week, said antioxidants may improve survival rates and tumor response by helping patients complete prescribed treatment cycles, The Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment said Friday in a release.
In 18 of 30 studies evaluated, patients who received oral or intravenous antioxidant supplements experienced significantly lower toxicity. The report said glutathione, melatonin and vitamin E showed the most consistent and promising effects. Vitamin A was the only antioxidant that showed significantly greater toxicity.
Dr. Keith I. Block, co-founder and medical/scientific director of the Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment, was the lead author. Robert Newman, Professor of Cancer Medicine at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, co-wrote the report.
The report, which is to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago next week, said antioxidants may improve survival rates and tumor response by helping patients complete prescribed treatment cycles, The Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment said Friday in a release.
In 18 of 30 studies evaluated, patients who received oral or intravenous antioxidant supplements experienced significantly lower toxicity. The report said glutathione, melatonin and vitamin E showed the most consistent and promising effects. Vitamin A was the only antioxidant that showed significantly greater toxicity.
Dr. Keith I. Block, co-founder and medical/scientific director of the Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment, was the lead author. Robert Newman, Professor of Cancer Medicine at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, co-wrote the report.
© 2007 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
In this image from NASA's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder instrument on NASA's Aqua spacecraft, Cyclone Nargis is pictured when it was a Category one hurricane located 370 miles west of Yangon, Myanmar on May 1, 2008. Tropical Cyclone Nargis flooded the region on May 4, 2008. The death toll from the cyclone and its aftermath is feared to hit or exceed 100,000 lives. (UPI Photo/NASA/MODIS Rapid Response Team)
NASA satellite images show Tropical Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar
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