Evaluation of Transforming Growth Factor-β2 for Radiation-induced Diarrhea after Pelvic Radiotherapy

Abstract

Aims and background Radiotherapy (RT) plays a central role in the management of cancers located in the abdomen and pelvis. However, radiation-induced toxicity remains a major concern for patients receiving RT to the abdominopelvic region. In this context, our study aims to evaluate the use of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2-enriched formula for amelioration of radiation-induced diarrhea for patients undergoing pelvic RT. Methods and Study Design Between September 2013 and September 2014, 86 malnourished patients undergoing RT for pelvic cancers who received oral nutritional supplementation with or without TGF-β2-enriched formula were assessed retrospectively in 3 groups. Oral diphenoxylate-atropine tablets were used at onset of diarrhea in all groups. Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests were used in the comparison of continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Results Patients receiving nutritional supplemention with TGF-β2-enriched formula (groups I and II) experienced a significantly lower median number of diarrhea episodes compared to patients receiving nutritional supplementation with other products (group III), which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Also, number of patients experiencing grade 2 and grade 3 diarrhea was significantly lower in groups I and II compared to group III (p<0.05). Conclusions Nutritional supplemention with TGF-β2-enriched formula offers amelioration of radiation-induced diarrhea for patients receiving pelvic RT. Since this is the first study assessing the use of nutritional supplementation with TGF-β2-enriched formula for patients undergoing pelvic RT, future prospective studies are needed to confirm the results.