HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Anyone heard of subcutaneous fibrous scar tissue?

Lani · 09-20-2008, 05:41 PM

Role of pentoxifylline and vitamin E in attenuation of radiation-induced fibrosis.
Chiao TB, Lee AJ.
Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121-1545, USA. teresa.chiao@med.va.gov
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of pentoxifylline and vitamin E as monotherapy and in combination for the treatment of radiation-induced fibrosis (RIF). DATA SOURCES: Literature retrieval was performed through MEDLINE (1966-March 2004) using the terms vitamin E, alpha-tocopherol, pentoxifylline, radiation-induced fibrosis, and radiation injury. DATA SYNTHESIS: Few treatments exist for managing RIF of soft tissues. Due to its antioxidant properties, vitamin E may reduce the oxidative damage induced by radiation. The precise mechanism of action for pentoxifylline in management of RIF remains unclear. Uncontrolled studies evaluating vitamin E or pentoxifylline as monotherapy in RIF have shown modest improvement in clinical regression of fibrosis. However, controlled data are needed to verify these benefits. Studies involving pentoxifylline plus vitamin E demonstrated regression in RIF. The combination was more effective than placebo and may be superior to monotherapy with either agent. Adverse effects were rarely reported in the studies and consisted mainly of gastrointestinal and nervous system effects. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, pentoxifylline is well tolerated and is one of the few commercially available drugs with clinical data for management of RIF. Despite a lack of large, well-designed clinical trials, pentoxifylline plus vitamin E should be considered as an option in patients with symptomatic RIF PMID: 15701781
^^^^^^^^
: Br J Radiol. 1998 Aug;71(848):892-4.
Links
Striking regression of radiation-induced fibrosis by a combination of pentoxifylline and tocopherol.

Delanian S.
Service d'Oncologie-Radiothérapie, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
Radiation-induced fibrosis (RIF) is a terminal sequela to irradiation that does not regress spontaneously. A preliminary study of a combination of pentoxifylline (PTX) and tocopherol (vit-E) has shown clinical activity with 50% superficial RIF regression at 6 months in half of the patients studied. The present report is of a 67-year-old woman presenting with bulky cervicothoracic RIF who, 10 years previously, had received radiochemotherapy for a small cell thyroid carcinoma to a dose of 50 Gy, with severe acute side-effects. She had palpable cervicosternal fibrosis measuring 10 x 8 cm, with local inflammatory signs and functional consequences (cough, restricted cervical movement, dyspnoea and bronchitis) with a SOMA scale for grading the long-term side effects of radiation therapy of 19/14. CT showed deep RIF extending from the vocal cords to the carina, with laryngotracheal compression but without cancer recurrence. PTX (800 mg d-1) and vit-E (1000 U d-1), orally administered daily for 18 months, were well tolerated. The patient exhibited clinical regression and functional improvement. The linear dimensions and SOMA scale were, respectively, 8 x 6 cm and 11 at 6 months; 4 x 4 cm and 7 at 12 months; and complete response with no measurable RIF and 1 at 18 months. This is the first time that the combination of PTX and vit-E has had a significant antifibrotic effect by completely reversing deep RIF as shown by CT scan normalization.
PMID: 9828807 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

The last article is available in full free online

hope this helps!!

09-20-2008, 05:41 PM	#4
Lani Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,782	more references Role of pentoxifylline and vitamin E in attenuation of radiation-induced fibrosis. Chiao TB, Lee AJ. Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121-1545, USA. teresa.chiao@med.va.gov OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of pentoxifylline and vitamin E as monotherapy and in combination for the treatment of radiation-induced fibrosis (RIF). DATA SOURCES: Literature retrieval was performed through MEDLINE (1966-March 2004) using the terms vitamin E, alpha-tocopherol, pentoxifylline, radiation-induced fibrosis, and radiation injury. DATA SYNTHESIS: Few treatments exist for managing RIF of soft tissues. Due to its antioxidant properties, vitamin E may reduce the oxidative damage induced by radiation. The precise mechanism of action for pentoxifylline in management of RIF remains unclear. Uncontrolled studies evaluating vitamin E or pentoxifylline as monotherapy in RIF have shown modest improvement in clinical regression of fibrosis. However, controlled data are needed to verify these benefits. Studies involving pentoxifylline plus vitamin E demonstrated regression in RIF. The combination was more effective than placebo and may be superior to monotherapy with either agent. Adverse effects were rarely reported in the studies and consisted mainly of gastrointestinal and nervous system effects. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, pentoxifylline is well tolerated and is one of the few commercially available drugs with clinical data for management of RIF. Despite a lack of large, well-designed clinical trials, pentoxifylline plus vitamin E should be considered as an option in patients with symptomatic RIF PMID: 15701781 ^^^^^^^^ : Br J Radiol. 1998 Aug;71(848):892-4. Links Striking regression of radiation-induced fibrosis by a combination of pentoxifylline and tocopherol. Delanian S. Service d'Oncologie-Radiothérapie, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France. Radiation-induced fibrosis (RIF) is a terminal sequela to irradiation that does not regress spontaneously. A preliminary study of a combination of pentoxifylline (PTX) and tocopherol (vit-E) has shown clinical activity with 50% superficial RIF regression at 6 months in half of the patients studied. The present report is of a 67-year-old woman presenting with bulky cervicothoracic RIF who, 10 years previously, had received radiochemotherapy for a small cell thyroid carcinoma to a dose of 50 Gy, with severe acute side-effects. She had palpable cervicosternal fibrosis measuring 10 x 8 cm, with local inflammatory signs and functional consequences (cough, restricted cervical movement, dyspnoea and bronchitis) with a SOMA scale for grading the long-term side effects of radiation therapy of 19/14. CT showed deep RIF extending from the vocal cords to the carina, with laryngotracheal compression but without cancer recurrence. PTX (800 mg d-1) and vit-E (1000 U d-1), orally administered daily for 18 months, were well tolerated. The patient exhibited clinical regression and functional improvement. The linear dimensions and SOMA scale were, respectively, 8 x 6 cm and 11 at 6 months; 4 x 4 cm and 7 at 12 months; and complete response with no measurable RIF and 1 at 18 months. This is the first time that the combination of PTX and vit-E has had a significant antifibrotic effect by completely reversing deep RIF as shown by CT scan normalization. PMID: 9828807 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] The last article is available in full free online hope this helps!!