The protective effects of Bacillus licheniformis preparation on gastrointestinal disorders and inflammation induced by radiotherapy in pediatric patients with central nervous system tumor

Abstract

Purpose: we studied the effect of Bacillus licheniformis preparation (ZCS) on CNST (central nervous system tumor) patients undergoing the gastrointestinal symptoms and inflammation induced by radiotherapy.

Materials and methods: 160 CNST patients with craniospinal irradiation (CSI) treatment were divided into experiment and control group. The experiment group patients took one capsule per time of ZCS and three times a day until the end of radiotherapy, starting one day before radiotherapy. While the patients in control group were administrated placebo without any probiotics. Serum from one day before radiotherapy and the first day after radiotherapy were collected to measure the ET, CRP, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6.

Results: More than 70% CNST pediatric patients suffered from different degrees of gastrointestinal symptoms after radiotherapy, including mouth ulcer, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. And there was an obviously increased of serum ET, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and CRP after RT. Importantly, a markedly decreased of ET, CRP and inflammatory cytokines were detected in the experiment group comparing to the control group after radiotherapy, as well as the relief of the gastrointestinal symptoms. However, improvement of probiotics (or ZCS) of the survival rate of CNST children and the recurrence of tumor are not observed in this study.

Conclusions: Prophylactically administrated ZCS during radiotherapy for CNST patients can relieve RT-related gastrointestinal symptoms and inflammatory reaction.

Keywords: Bacillus licheniformis preparation; Inflammation-gastrointestinal symptoms; Pediatric central nervous system tumor; Radiotherapy.