Sodium selenite in gynecologic radiation oncology. Results of a phase III study

摘要

The aim of this prospective phase-III-study was to evaluate, whether sodium selenite is able to compensate a preexisting selenium deficiency in adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for pelvic gynecologic malignancies. Further we proved the use of sodium selenite in the prevention of radiation induced diarrhea. From 12/2000 to 04/2004 decreased whole blood selenium levels were measured in 63 patients (median age: 64.5 years) undergoing adjuvant RT after curative surgical resection of a pelvic gynecologic tumour. There is a significant increase of the mean level of whole blood selenium in the supplementation group reaching the lower border of the normal range and a decrease after cessation of selenium intake. In the control group we could not see any change of investigated mean selenium levels. Concerning diarrhea, there is a significant trend towards a lower incidence of diarrhea CTC 1/2 with selenium supplementation at present.