H. M. Yun

Effect of pentoxifylline on radiation response of non-small cell lung cancer: a phase III randomized multicenter trial.

PURPOSES The objectives of this prospective clinical trial were to determine whether pentoxifylline improves the radiation response and survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS From July 1993 through October 1994, 64 patients with histologically confirmed Stage I, II and III non-small cell lung cancer were randomly divided into pentoxifylline (Pento)+Radiotherapy (RT) group and RT alone group. Out of the 64 patients, only 47 patients who had measurable tumors on chest X-ray views were analyzed and divided into Pento+RT group (n=27) and RT alone group (n=20). Total tumor dose of 65-70 Gy was delivered as conventional fractionated radiation schedules. Pento was given to the patients 3 x 400 mg/day with a daily dose of 1200 mg during RT. RESULTS Complete response (CR), partial response (PR), and stable in Pento+RT group were three (11%), 13 (48%), and 11 (41%), respectively, as compared with corresponding values of three (15%), 13 (65%), and four (20%) in the RT alone group. The median time to relapse in the Pento+RT group was 11 months which was 2 months longer than for the RT alone group (P>0.05). All the patients in both groups showed lower than or equal to grade 2 dysphagia, odynophagia, pulmonary fibrosis, and pneumonitis. The median survival was 18 months in the Pento+RT group and 7 months in the RT alone group. The 1-year survival rate was 60% in the Pento+RT group and 35% in the RT alone group, the 2-year survival rate was 18% in the Pento+RT group and 12% in the RT alone group. But these differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION We concluded that Pento is a modestly effective radiation response modifier and provide benefit in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

The effect of dietary Bacillus subtilis supplementation on the growth performance, blood profile, nutrient retention, and caecal microflora in broiler chickens

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the B. subtilis RX7 and B. subtilis C14 on the growth performance, blood profiles, nutrient retention, and caecal microflora of broiler chickens. A total of 288, 1-d-old Ross 308 male broilers were assigned to one of four dietary treatment groups for 35 days; the negative control (NC; basal diet with no antibiotic or B. subtilis), positive control (PC; NC + 40 ppm avilamycin), T1 (NC + 0.1% B. subtilis RX7 1.0×109 cfu/g), and T2 (NC + 0.1% B. subtilis C14 1.0×109 cfu/g). B. subtilis supplementation led to significantly higher weight gain than that in the NC. The serum haptoglobin concentration was lower in the Bacillus groups than in the NC and PC groups. The energy retention of broilers fed B. subtilis was significantly higher than that of the NC and PC broilers. The numbers of caecal Lactobacillus or Salmonella in the Bacillus groups were higher and lower, respectively, than those in the numbers in the NC and PC. The results showed that B. subtilis RX7 and C14 increased the weight gain, energy retention, and caecal Lactobacillus numbers and decreased serum haptoglobin levels and caecal Salmonella numbers in broiler chickens.