conclusion
At the Institute of Oncology of Medical Sciences Academy of Ukraine in the department of radiotherapy the clinical studies have been conducted to study the effect of the medical immunobiological preparation Liasten in chemoradiation therapy (CRT) in cancer patients from April 1, 2007 until August 1, 2007.
According to the instructions for the preparation Liasten refers to immunomodulators of natural origin with a wide spectrum of action. It is a fragment of the cell wall of lactobacilli that stimulate the function of macrophages and normalizes the number of T-lymphocytes. Liasten is able to increase the cytotoxic activity of natural cells-killers, helps to stimulate leukopoiesis and reduces the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
The study included patients with breast cancer II B-ShB st. and patients with cancer of the cervix and body of the uterus IB-SB st. The study group consisted of 20 patients: 6 - patients with breast cancer, 8 — cancer of the cervix and 6 - cancer of the uterus. The control group consisted of 10 patients: 4 - breast cancer and 6 - cancer of the cervix. All patients underwent CRT according to the standard treatment methods. During the entire course of treatment Liasten was administered to patients of the study group with the dosage 200 mg intramuscularly once every 7 days, with a maximum dose of 1000 mg per 5 injections.
All patients were well tolerated. With the introduction of Liasten hyperemia, hyperthermia and slight itching were observed in one patient at the place of injection. Under the influence of desensitizing drugs, all side effects have disappeared. The second patient of the study group had a headache after the injection, and in two of the remaining patients the body temperature increased to 37,5 °C during 5-6 hours after each injection, however, this did not require medical correction.
Starting with the 2-3rd injection of Liastenu on the background of CRT, patients noted the decrease of pain and weakness. During this period the reduction in the size of the tumor and the infiltration of surrounding normal tissues were recorded using objective research methods. Despite the fact that the patients of the group under study received radiation and chemotherapy, the indications of blood, namely leukocytes and lymphocytes during the entire course were within the normal range. In 6 patients of the control group, leukopenia was registered during treatment (5 cases – I degree, 1 case – II degree), 2 patients had thrombocytopenia. Radiation reactions (enterocolitis, epidermis) were also observed in the majority of patients in this group. Taken into account the severity of radiation reactions, 3 patients in the control group needed a forced interruption of treatment.
Thus, the use of Liasten in the treatment of cancer patients helps to stimulate leukopoiesis, reduces the side effects of CRT, makes it possible to conduct a course of treatment in the planned amount and without a forced break. Therefore, Liasten can be used in CRT of cancer patients as an accompanying preparation to ensure the full course of the main treatment.
Head of Radiation Therapy Department of Medical Sciences,
prof. Ivankova V.S.
Deputy Director for Science 10 ANU, MD,
prof. Grinevich Yu.Ya.
