BACKGROUND: Disorders of antioxidant balance are considered to be involved in the toxicity associated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum alpha-tocopherol and retinol were determined, by high performance liquid chromatography, before and during therapy with a combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin in 28 patients with breast and ovarian cancer. Serum neopterin and cholesterol were measured using a radioimmunoassay and enzymatic colorimetric method, respectively. RESULTS: Compared to pretreatment concentrations, a significant increase was observed in serum alpha-tocopherol and retinol concentrations during therapy that was associated with decreased serum neopterin concentrations. Serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations were significantly higher during therapy in patients who did not experience serious toxicity. CONCLUSION: An increase in alpha-tocopherol and retinol during therapy with combination paclitaxel/carboplatin may be explained by inhibition of systemic immune activation secondary to control of the tumor with effective chemotherapy. Lower alpha-tocopherol concentrations were associated with the toxicity of therapy.

• MeSH
• alfa-tokoferol krev   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• karboplatina aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádory prsu krev   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• nádory vaječníků krev   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• neopterin krev   MeSH
• paclitaxel aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• protokoly protinádorové kombinované chemoterapie terapeutické užití   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• vitamin A krev   MeSH
• vysokoúčinná kapalinová chromatografie MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• alfa-tokoferol MeSH
• karboplatina MeSH
• neopterin MeSH
• paclitaxel MeSH
• vitamin A MeSH