Pentoxifylline in the Treatment of Radiation-Induced Fibrosis

Fibrotic sequelae remain the most important dose-limiting toxicity of radiation therapy to soft tissue. Functionally, this is reflected in loss of range of motion and muscle strength and the development of limb edema and pain. Tumor necrosis factor alpha and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), which...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of clinical oncology Vol. 22; no. 11; pp. 2207 - 2213
Main Authors:	OKUNIEFF, Paul, AUGUSTINE, Elizabeth, COLEMAN, Norman, GERBER, Lynn H, HICKS, Jeanne E, CORNELISON, Terri L, ALTEMUS, Rosemary M, NAYDICH, Boris G, DING, Ivan, HUSER, Amy K, ABRAHAM, Edward H, SMITH, Judith J
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Baltimore, MD American Society of Clinical Oncology 01-06-2004 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Subjects:	Adolescent Adult Aged Biological and medical sciences Cytokines - blood Cytokines - drug effects Fibrosis Humans Medical sciences Middle Aged Pentoxifylline - pharmacology Pentoxifylline - therapeutic use Radiation Injuries - drug therapy Radiation Injuries - etiology Radiation-Protective Agents - pharmacology Radiation-Protective Agents - therapeutic use Radiotherapy - adverse effects Range of Motion, Articular - drug effects Soft Tissue Injuries - drug therapy Soft Tissue Injuries - etiology Treatment Outcome Tumors Pentoxifylline 3',5'-Cyclic-nucleotide phosphodiesterase Cancerology Treatment Vasodilator agent Enzyme Fibrosis Enzyme inhibitor Hydrolases Esterases Xanthine derivatives Phosphoric diester hydrolases
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Fibrotic sequelae remain the most important dose-limiting toxicity of radiation therapy to soft tissue. Functionally, this is reflected in loss of range of motion and muscle strength and the development of limb edema and pain. Tumor necrosis factor alpha and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), which are abnormally elevated in irradiated tissues, may mediate radiation fibrovascular injury. In an open label drug trial, we studied the effects of pentoxifylline (400 mg orally tid for 8 weeks) on 30 patients who displayed late, radiation-induced fibrosis at 1 to 29 years posttreatment (40 to 84 Gy). The primary outcome measurement was change in physical impairments thought to be secondary to radiation, including active and passive range of motion (AROM and PROM), muscle strength, limb edema, and pain. Plasma levels of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha and FGF2) also were measured. Twenty-seven patients completed baseline and 8-week assessments, and 24 patients completed baseline, 8-week, and 16-week assessments. After 8 weeks of pentoxifylline intervention, 20 of 23 patients with impaired AROM and 19 of 22 with impaired PROM improved; 11 of 19 patients with muscle weakness showed improved motor strength; five of seven patients with edema had decreased limb girth; and nine of 20 patients had decreased pain. Pretreatment FGF2 levels dropped from an average of 44.9 pg/mL to 24.0 pg/mL after 8 weeks of treatment. Patients receiving pentoxifylline demonstrated improved AROM, PROM, and muscle strength and decreased limb edema and pain. Reversal of these delayed radiation effects was associated with a decrease in circulating FGF2.
ISSN:	0732-183X 1527-7755
DOI:	10.1200/JCO.2004.09.101