Effect of Pentoxifylline in Protection the Breast Tissue Against Radiation Injury

Abstract

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of pentoxifylline against radiation injury in patients with breast cancer.METHODSA total of 82 patients with early-stage breast cancer who underwent breast-conserving surgery and intraoperative electron radiotherapy (RT) as a boost followed by whole-breast RT in the past circa 5 yearsand completed the full RT dose at least 1 year before were included into this retrospective study. Thepatients who received prophylactic pentoxifylline (n=44) were assigned to Group A, and those who didnot (n=38) to Group B. All cases were evaluated a month (early) and 1 year (late) later, scored accordingto the Late Effects Normal Tissue Task Force-Subjective, Objective, Management, Analytic scale andanalyzed using an independent t-test.RESULTSIn Group A, the score was 0,1, 2, and 3 in 24,11,seven, and two cases, respectively, in the early period andin 26,10, five, and three cases, respectively, in the late period. In Group B, the score was 0,1, 2, and 3 in20,10, five, and three cases, respectively, in the early period, and in 15, 12, six, and five cases, respectively,in the late period. The average scores in Groups A and B were, respectively, 0.90/0.86 in the early and0.65/1.02 in the late period. According to the t-test, there was a significant difference in the late period(p=0.001) in favor of Group A.CONCLUSIONPenthoxifylline was effective in protection against the radiation injury