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Updated: May 29, 2026
07:32
An Intravital Microscopy-Based Approach to Assess Intestinal Permeability and Epithelial Cell Shedding Performance
Published on: December 3, 2020
Gastroduodenal, intestinal and colonic permeability during anticancer therapy
Bohuslav Melichar1, Radomír Hyspler, Hana Kalábová
1Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Charles University Medical School and Teaching Hospital, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. bohuslav.melichar@fnol.cz
Hepato-Gastroenterology
|September 23, 2011
Summary
Cancer therapy can affect gut mucosal permeability. Bevacizumab-based chemotherapy increased intestinal permeability, while cetuximab-based therapy did not, suggesting differential effects on gut health during treatment.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Gut mucosal permeability assessment can objectively evaluate mucosal dysfunction during cancer therapy.
- Chemotherapy regimens may impact gastrointestinal mucosal integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure gastroduodenal, intestinal, and colonic permeability in cancer patients undergoing specific chemotherapy regimens.
- To assess the impact of bevacizumab- and cetuximab-based chemotherapy on gut mucosal permeability.
Main Methods:
- Utilized capillary gas chromatography to measure urinary levels of sucralose, sucrose, lactulose, xylose, and mannitol.
- Studied 41 patients with metastatic colorectal or epithelial ovarian carcinoma before and during chemotherapy.
- Investigated chemotherapy combinations including bevacizumab, oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, cetuximab, irinotecan, paclitaxel, and platinum.
Main Results:
- Bevacizumab, oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin combination significantly increased sucrose and lactulose excretion ratios during the first therapy cycle.
- No significant changes in permeability were observed in patients receiving cetuximab, irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin.
- Patients on cetuximab-based therapy exhibited higher baseline lactulose excretion and sugar/sugar alcohol ratios.
Conclusions:
- Bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy increased gastroduodenal and intestinal permeability.
- Cetuximab-containing chemotherapy did not demonstrate a significant increase in permeability.
- The method showed limitations in detecting colonic permeability changes in a substantial proportion of patients.
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