Use of a Fermented Dairy Beverage in Cervical Cancer Patients Undergoing Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy

February 16, 2023 updated by: Dr. Lucely Cetina Pérez, National Institute of Cancerología

Phase II Randomized, Double Blind Study of Probiotics in Patients With Cervical Cancer in Clinical Stages IIB Undergoing Concurrent Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy

Many cancer survivors have increased risk of intestinal damage, affecting the quality of life of patients. The role of intestinal microbiota on the development of gastrointestinal toxicity and radiation enteritis has been described in cervical cancer patients that received pelvic RT. In this project we investigated the effect that a fermented dairy beverage (Yakult) may have in the modulation of inflammation and consequently of gastrointestinal toxicity in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) patients treated with concomitant chemo-radiotherapy (CRT).

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Globally, many cancer survivors have undergone radiotherapy (RT) to pelvic tumors, this confers an increased risk of intestinal damage, affecting the quality of life of patients. The role of intestinal microbiota on the development of gastrointestinal toxicity and radiation enteritis has been described in cervical cancer patients that received pelvic RT. In this project we investigated the effect that a fermented dairy beverage (Yakult) may have in the modulation of inflammation and consequently of gastrointestinal toxicity in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) patients treated with concomitant chemo-radiotherapy (CRT).

In Mexico, the incidence of cervical cancer is 23 cases in 100,000 women (2015, Secretaría de Salud). In the Mexican National Cancer Institute (Instituto Nacional de Cancerología; INCan), 80% of patients arrive at locally advanced stages (IB2-IVA), the standard treatment is based on CRT. Gastrointestinal symptoms experienced by patients that receive pelvic RT define the pelvic radiation disease (PRD). Acute PRD is the result of cell death in the crypt epithelium and an acute inflammatory response in the lamina propria, which results in an insufficient replacement of the villi, rupture and inflammation of the mucosal barrier. Symptoms develop in 60-80% of patients. These include nausea, diarrhea, tenesmus, abdominal pain, urgency, anorexia, bleeding and fatigue; these are dose-limiting symptoms and affect the patients' quality of life.

A recent study analyzed the microbiota of LACC patients and found that patients that develop PRD during treatment with CRT possess a different microbiota to those patients that do not develop severe gastrointestinal toxicity. Evidence points to the critical role that the microbiota and intestinal inflammation play for the development of PRD in LACC patients. Therefore, an optimal intervention that modulates the microbiota is essential. We aimed to investigate the effect that a dairy beverage fermented with the probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota may have on intestinal and systemic inflammation, and consequently gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life in women with LACC, undergoing CRT.

METHODS. This study was a double blind, placebo-controlled trial for Stage IIB cervical cancer patients that underwent CRT. The intervention group consumed of 3 servings of the fermented dairy beverage (Yakult) a day. The control group consumed 3 servings of the placebo beverage (with the same organoleptic qualities of Yakult). Clinical toxicity was analyzed with the Common Toxicity Criteria Version 2. Quality of Life score was measured with the QLQC 30 EORTC questionnaire. Fecal calprotectin was quantified to determine intestinal inflammation. Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were quantified in blood samples to determine systemic inflammation.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

42

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Tlalpan
      • Mexico City, Tlalpan, Mexico, 14080
        • National Cancer Institute of Mexico

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Histological confirmation of cervical cancer staged as IIB.
  • Histology: Epidermoid, adenosquamous, and adenocarcinoma
  • Without previous treatment
  • Measurable disease
  • Age between 18 and 70 years
  • Functional status of 0-2 (WHO criteria)
  • Normal hematological, renal and hepatic function
  • Standard chest X-ray
  • Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with small cell carcinoma or other rare histologies (sarcomas, lymphomas)
  • Patients with other clinical stages
  • Patients with paraaotic nodes less than or equal to 1 cm.
  • Patients with non-measurable disease
  • Infections or serious diseases that prevent the use of chemotherapy
  • Concomitant treatment with another experimental drug
  • Pregnancy or lactation
  • Mental diseases
  • Patients with previously documented hypersensitivity reactions to lactobacilli.
  • Diabetic patients or hyperglycemia higher than 145 mg/dL.
  • Previous or concomitant malignancy except non-melanoma skin carcinoma
  • Social, family or geographical conditions that suggest a poor adherence to the study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Fermented dairy beverage
Concumption of 3 servings of the fermented dairy beverage a day, during oncological treatment.
Placebo dairy beverage (placebo) is a sweetened dairy beverage.
Other Names:
  • Probiotic
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Consumption of 3 servings of the placebo dairy beverage a day, during oncological treatment.
Placebo dairy beverage (placebo) is a sweetened dairy beverage.
Other Names:
  • Probiotic

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Clinical toxicity
Time Frame: Change from baseline up to 3 months after treatment finished

Toxicity was analyzed with the Common Toxicity Criteria Version 2.

A grading (severity) scale is provided for each adverse event (AE) term. Grade refers to the severity of the AE. The CTCAE displays Grades 1 through 5 with unique clinical descriptions of severity for each AE based on this general guideline:

Grade 1 Mild; asymptomatic or mild symptoms; clinical or diagnostic observations only; intervention not indicated.

Grade 2 Moderate; minimal, local or noninvasive intervention indicated; limiting age-appropriate instrumental activities of daily living.

Grade 3 Severe or medically significant but not immediately life-threatening; hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization indicated; disabling; limiting self care activities of daily living.

Grade 4 Life-threatening consequences; urgent intervention indicated.

Grade 5 Death related to AE.

Change from baseline up to 3 months after treatment finished

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Health Related Quality of Life
Time Frame: Change from baseline up to 3 months after treatment finished
It was measured with the EORTC QLQ-C30 V2.
Change from baseline up to 3 months after treatment finished
Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines
Time Frame: Change from baseline up to 3 months after treatment finished
Th1, Th2, Th17 and IL-10 citokines were quantified in blood samples to determine systemic inflammation using immune assay ELISA.
Change from baseline up to 3 months after treatment finished

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Lucely Cetina Pérez, MD, PhD, Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

April 25, 2005

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 25, 2007

Study Completion (Actual)

March 11, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 31, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 16, 2023

First Posted (Estimate)

February 20, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

February 20, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 16, 2023

Last Verified

February 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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