Vitamins C and E combination fights side effects of radiation treatment for cancers in pelvic area

A study involving 20 individuals suffering from chronic radiation proctitis showed that a daily regimen of vitamins E and C substantially reduced or eliminated the symptoms of the illness. This condition has traditionally been treated with anti-inflammatory agents without satisfactory results. Results of the study appear in the April issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Radiation therapy is commonly used to treat patients with cancers of the prostate, cervix and endometrial cancers. Radiation therapy is effective in killing cancer cells but the therapy also damages some neighboring, non-cancerous cells. As a result, oxygen free radicals form and patients experience the symptoms of proctitis. The symptoms, including diarrhea, pain, bleeding and incontinence, usually clear up within a few weeks of the last radiation treatment.

However, the symptoms do not clear up in 10 �20 percent of the patients. Still other patients develop the symptoms months or years after the initial radiation exposure.

�Our study showed that we can harness the potent antioxidant properties of the vitamins to repair cell damage and bring relief to many people who suffer from the persistent, lifestyle-altering symptoms of chronic radiation proctitis,� said Dr. Keith Bruninga, gastroenterologist at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke�s Medical Center, Chicago, one of the co-authors of the paper.

While the use of the vitamins has been shown in the past to prevent tissue damage associated with radiation injury, the effect of the vitamins in the treatment of chronic radiation proctitis had not been studied before.

Radiation treatment causes oxygen free radicals to form from cells that have been injured by radiation. Oxygen free radicals are highly active molecules that react with cells by changing or damaging their structure. The formation of the oxygen free radicals increases the amount of injury to the cells and results in a chronic condition as blood flow to the cells is decreased.

Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that can react with damaging oxygen free radicals. Vitamin C in combination with E increases the effects of vitamin E. The researchers believe that the antioxidant treatment regimen using the vitamins counteracts and can prevent oxygen free radical injury and increase blood flow to the injured cells of patients with chronic radiation proctitis.

Patients in the study, ten men and ten women with chronic radiation proctitis, took one 400 IU vitamin E tablet along with one 500mg vitamin C tablet three times each day for eight consecutive weeks. Patients purchased the vitamins themselves at the store of their choice.

Each patient in the study rated their symptoms in terms of severity and frequency before and after treatment with the vitamins using a questionnaire developed by the researchers.

The impact of the symptoms on the lifestyle of the patients was also assessed using a questionnaire. Ten of the patients were assessed again after one year to determine if their initial responses were sustained.

The assessments showed a significant improvement in bleeding, diarrhea and urgency after taking the vitamins. Patients with rectal pain did not improve significantly. Thirteen patients reported an improvement in their lifestyle including seven whom reported a complete return to normal.

All of the ten patients who were assessed after one year reported a sustained improvement in their symptoms while continuing to take the vitamins.

The Rush physicians believe that the actual incidence of the ailment is greater than the estimated 10 � 20 percent of radiation patients. They feel that many patients, relieved and grateful that their cancers are remission, are embarrassed to tell their physicians about the symptoms of radiation proctitis.

Currently, the Rush physicians are seeking additional individuals with chronic radiation proctitis to conduct a larger, double-blinded study of the effectiveness of antioxidants in the treatment of the illness.

People who believe they may have radiation proctitis can call 312-942-5861 for more information.

�If our continued research shows that the antioxidant regimen is successful in treatment of this illness, we plan to investigate its use to prevent chronic radiation proctitis,� said Dr. Bruninga.

Statistics on Pelvic Area Cancers
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers, in American men, affecting about 1,804,400 men. Approximately 180,400 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed this year. About 50 percent of prostate cancer patients receive radiation therapy.

Cervical cancer affects about 645,000 women, and about 65,000 new cases will be diagnosed this year. About 20 percent of these patients receive radiation therapy.

361.000 women are affected by endometrial cancer, with about 36,000 new cases diagnosed this year. About 20 percent of these patients receive radiation therapy.