Enterosorption as a supportive treatment during external radiotherapy in patients with uterine and cervical cancer

Background

The most common adverse reactions of external pelvic radiotherapy include: frequent stools, frequent urination, dysuria, tenesmus, abdominal pain and blood count changes. To reduce them, patients should mind their diet, take enough fluids and use medications. One of the possibilities is Enterosgel, a selective enterosorbent.

Method

We administered Enterosgel as a part of a clinical study “The role of Enterosgel in prevention of gastrointestinal adverse reactions of percutaneous radiation”. 90 patients with uterine or cervical cancer, treated by external pelvic radiotherapy, were divided into 2 groups: the first group included 46 patients who were given 45 g of Enterosgel per day, and the second group included 44 patients who didn’t take Enterosgel. We monitored the following parameters: ECOG, body weight, diarrhoea, nausea, leukocytes, thrombocytes and erythrocytes count and potassium and sodium levels.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for blood count, electrolytes levels and ECOG. We found a statistically significant difference for body weight, number of diarrheal stools and number of days without nausea. Compared to patients who weren’t taking Enterosgel, patients in Enterosgel group lost 0.49 to 2.17 kg less (p-value = 0.00234), had 0.47 to 6.29 less diarrheal stools (p-value = 0.02325), and had 1.03 to 5.71 less days with nausea (p-value = 0.005588).

Conclusion

Preliminary results indicate that Enterosgel can be recommended as a supportive treatment during pelvic radiation, because it is well tolerated and effectively reduces gastrointestinal problems and weight loss. However, additional studies that will include more patients are needed.

Visnja Matkovic¹,Kristina Katic²,Ante Corusic²,Robert Likic³¹University clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology, KBC Zagreb,Department of Gynecologic Oncology, ²Department of gynaecologic oncology, Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, ³Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb