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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
Carotid Artery Infusions for Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Analysis of Taxanes in Mice
Published on: October 27, 2014
Serum alpha-tocopherol, retinol and neopterin during paclitaxel/carboplatin chemotherapy
Bohuslav Melichar1, Hana Kalábová, Lenka Krcmová
1Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Charles University Medical School and Teaching Hospital, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. melichar@fnhk.cz
Background:
Disorders of antioxidant balance are considered to be involved in the toxicity associated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
Patients And Methods:
Serum alpha-tocopherol and retinol were determined, by high performance liquid chromatography, before and during therapy with a combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin in 28 patients with breast and ovarian cancer. Serum neopterin and cholesterol were measured using a radioimmunoassay and enzymatic colorimetric method, respectively.
Results:
Compared to pretreatment concentrations, a significant increase was observed in serum alpha-tocopherol and retinol concentrations during therapy that was associated with decreased serum neopterin concentrations. Serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations were significantly higher during therapy in patients who did not experience serious toxicity.
Conclusion:
An increase in alpha-tocopherol and retinol during therapy with combination paclitaxel/carboplatin may be explained by inhibition of systemic immune activation secondary to control of the tumor with effective chemotherapy. Lower alpha-tocopherol concentrations were associated with the toxicity of therapy.
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