Potentiation of the response to chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer by dietary supplementation with L-arginine: results of a randomised controlled trial

Int J Oncol. 1998 Jan;12(1):221-5. doi: 10.3892/ijo.12.1.221.

Abstract

Patients with large primary breast cancers are being treated with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Studies in animals have shown that responses to chemotherapy can be increased by dietary manipulation of tumour cell metabolism. Also dietary supplementation with the amino acid L-arginine, resulted in an increase in tumour metabolic activity expression of the nuclear activation antigen, Ki67, in patients with breast cancer. Therefore, we have carried out a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial to determine if L-arginine supplementation is beneficial in patients with breast cancer, undergoing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. 96 patients were randomised to receive L-arginine (30 g/day) for three days (n = 48) or placebo (n = 48) prior to undergoing chemotherapy (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone), 6 pulses at 21-day intervals. Clinical and pathological responses were assessed in both groups of patients following completion of chemotherapy. The clinical response rate was 77% (23% complete and 54% partial responses) in the L-arginine treated group, compared with 71% (15% complete and 56% partial) in the placebo group of patients (p = ns). However, in patients with tumours less than 6 cm in initial diameter, there was a significant increase in the better histopathological responses in the L-arginine group, when compared with the placebo group of patients (88% vs 52%, p = 0.04). This may have important implications for clinical practice.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Arginine / administration & dosage*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / pathology
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use*
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Synergism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mastectomy
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use*
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Vincristine / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Vincristine
  • Doxorubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Arginine
  • Prednisone

Supplementary concepts

  • CHOP protocol