Does vitamin E mitigate cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in cancer patients: Results from a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial

Background: Cisplatin (CP) is a potent antineoplastic agent in the treatment of wide a range of cancers, but it is accompanied with nephrotoxicity, a major limiting side effect. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible protective effect of vitamin E in the prevention of CP-induced nephrotoxicity. Method: In this randomized clinical trial, a total of 51 patients treated with CP chemotherapy were randomly assigned to receive vitamin E supplementation (400 Iu/ daily) (N=26) or placebo (N=25). Serum creatinine, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin were measured prior to each chemotherapy cycle and one month after the cessation of the cycles. Result: Compared to the baseline, a significant decrease was observed in the blood levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and serum creatinine in the vitamin E group (P=0.001). GFR was not reduced in the vitamin E group (P=0.001), and vitamin E was generally tolerated well. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that vitamin E exert protective effects against CP-induced nephrotoxicity, a finding which requires larger studies for confirmation. © 2020, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Epidemiological pattern of breast cancer in iranian women: Is there an ethnic disparity?

Introduction: Northeastern Iran is known as a high risk area of upper gastrointestinal cancers. Recent reports have suggested a declining trend for these cancers as well as an increase in the incidence of other malignancies including breast cancer. Our present aim was to describe the epidemiological pattern of breast cancer in this region during 2004-2009. Methods: All new cancer cases from public and private diagnostic and therapeutic centers of Golestan province were registered. A structured questionnaire was prepared and used based on the oncology was considered for coding. Age standardized incidence rates (ASR) of breast cancer were calculated. Results: A total of 11,038 new cancer cases were registered during 2004-2009, of which, 1,101 (10) were females with breast cancer. The median age of the breast cancer patients was 46 years. The ASR for breast cancer was 28 per 100,000 person-years. We found an unusual rapid increase in breast cancer rate at the age of 25 years. The ASR of breast cancer was significantly lower in females from Turkmen ethnicity and those from rural areas (P value <0.01). Conclusion: Our study showed high rate of breast cancer in Golestan province of Iran. We found an unusual peak of breast cancer in young women. So, the age of starting screening programs may need to be revised in this area. The rate of breast cancer was significantly lower in women from Turkmen ethnicity. Further studies are warranted to clarify the role of important determinants, especially regarding the ethnic disparity, on breast cancer in this region