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Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics
Medknow Publications on behalf of the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India (AROI)
ISSN: 0973-1482 EISSN: 1998-4138
Vol. 6, Num. 4, 2010, pp. 588-588

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics, Vol. 6, No. 4, October-December, 2010, pp. 588

Letter to the Editor

Irinotecan as a maintenance therapy for hepatoblastoma: A comment

V Wiwanitkit

Wiwanitkit House, Bang Khae, Bangkok, Thailand

Correspondence Address: V Wiwanitkit, Wiwanitkit House, Bang Khae, Bangkok 10160, Thailand, wviroj@yahoo.com

Code Number: cr10147

PMID: 21358112

DOI: 10.4103/0973-1482.77092

Sir,

Several novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of children with hepatoblastoma are currently available. Irinotecan is a new drug proposed for its effectiveness in high-risk patients with hepatoblastoma. [1] Qayed et al. found that irinotecan can be used as an effective maintenance therapy for hepatoblastoma. [2] However, hepatoblastoma is rare and clinical trials on irinotecan have usually included only a few subjects. Hence, it remains uncertain whether irinotecan is the optimal treatment for hepatoblastoma. Side effects of irinotecan should also be of concern. An important serious side effect of irinotecan is chemotherapy-induced diarrhea that can be a significant problem for patients. [3] For the studies with few subjects, it might be difficult to assess the magnitude of this side effect of irinotecan. Another important side effect is the genotoxicity. It should be noted that increased vitamin A, C and E of cells exposed to irinotecan is related to increased degree of genotoxicity. [4] Hence, vitamin status should be addressed in using irinotecan for the treatment of hepatoblastoma.

References

1.Katzenstein HM, Rigsby C, Shaw PH, Mitchell TL, Haut PR, Kletzel M. Novel therapeutic approaches in the treatment of children with hepatoblastoma. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2002;24:751-5.  Back to cited text no. 1  [PUBMED]  [FULLTEXT]
2.Qayed M, Powell C, Morgan ER, Haugen M, Katzenstein HM. Irinotecan as maintenance therapy in high-risk hepatoblastoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010.  Back to cited text no. 2    
3.Richardson G, Dobish R. Chemotherapy induced diarrhea. J Oncol Pharm Pract 2007;13:181-98.  Back to cited text no. 3  [PUBMED]  [FULLTEXT]
4.Kontek R, Drozda R, Sliwinski M, Grzegorczyk K. Genotoxicity of irinotecan and its modulation by vitamins A, C and E in human lymphocytes from healthy individuals and cancer patients. Toxicol in Vitrol 2009.  Back to cited text no. 4    

Copyright 2010 - Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics

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