Use of oral glutamine in radiation‑induced adverse effects in patients with thoracic and upper aerodigestive malignancies: Results of a prospective observational study

Abstract

Cancer growth in host tissues features gluta‑ mine (gln) depletion over time, decreasing epithelial cells' optimal functioning. In addition, radiotherapy (RT) and/or chemotherapy (CT) cause damage to normal tissues, probably enhanced by this depletion. The present study prospectively examined the effect of gln supplementa‑ tion on 72 patients with thoracic and upper aerodigestive malignancies (T&UAM) treated with sequential or concur‑ rent RT‑CT or RT alone. All patients received prophylactic gln powder 15 g bid for the full duration of treatment. The severity of acute radiation toxicities was graded according to the RT Oncology Group/European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer criteria. Primary endpoints were the incidence of grade >2 toxicities, weight loss and requirement for analgesics, and the secondary