Prevention of radiochemotherapy-induced toxicity with amifostine in patients with malignant orbital tumors involving the lacrimal gland: a pilot study
2008

Using Amifostine to Prevent Eye Problems in Cancer Treatment

Sample size: 5 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): David Goldblum, Pirus Ghadjar, Juergen Curschmann, Richard Greiner, Daniel Aebersold

Primary Institution: University Basel, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; University Bern, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland

Hypothesis

Can amifostine prevent dry eye syndrome in patients undergoing radiochemotherapy for orbital tumors?

Conclusion

Adding amifostine to radiotherapy for patients with orbital tumors was associated with no cases of dry eye syndrome.

Supporting Evidence

  • All patients completed their treatment without major toxic reactions.
  • Very good partial or complete tumor remission was achieved in all patients.
  • No subjective or objective signs of dry eye syndrome were found post-treatment.

Takeaway

This study looked at five patients with eye tumors and found that a medicine called amifostine helped prevent dry eyes during their treatment.

Methodology

Five patients received amifostine before radiotherapy, and their eye function was assessed post-treatment.

Limitations

The study was limited to a small sample size of five patients.

Participant Demographics

2 males and 3 females, median age 63 years (range 28-79 years).

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1748-717X-3-22

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