Radioprotective Effect of Moderate Wine Consumption in Patients With Breast Carcinoma

Morganti, Alessio G.; Digesù, Cinzia; Panunzi, Simona; De Gaetano, Andrea; Macchia, Gabriella; Deodato, Francesco; Cece, M. Grazia; Cirocco, Massimo; Di Castelnuovo, Augusto; Iacoviello, Licia; Valentini, Vincenzo; Cellini, Numa; de Gaetano, Giovanni

doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2008.10.089

« Previous Next »International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics
Volume 74, Issue 5 , Pages 1501-1505, 1 August 2009

Radioprotective Effect of Moderate Wine Consumption in Patients With Breast Carcinoma

Alessio G. Morganti, M.D.
- Radiotherapy Unit, Department of Oncology, “John Paul II” Center for High Technology Research and Education in Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University, Campobasso, Italy
Cinzia Digesù, M.D.
- Radiotherapy Unit, Department of Oncology, “John Paul II” Center for High Technology Research and Education in Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University, Campobasso, Italy
Simona Panunzi, M.S.
- National Research Council, Institute of Systems Analysis and Computer Science, BioMatLab, Rome, Italy
Andrea De Gaetano, M.D.
- National Research Council, Institute of Systems Analysis and Computer Science, BioMatLab, Rome, Italy
Gabriella Macchia, M.D.
- Radiotherapy Unit, Department of Oncology, “John Paul II” Center for High Technology Research and Education in Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University, Campobasso, Italy
- Reprint requests to: Gabriella Macchia, M.D., Radiotherapy Unit, Department of Oncology, Catholic University, Largo A. Gemelli 1, 86100 Campobasso, Italy. Tel: (+39) 0874-312-259; Fax: (+39) 0874-312-720
Francesco Deodato, M.D.
- Radiotherapy Unit, Department of Oncology, “John Paul II” Center for High Technology Research and Education in Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University, Campobasso, Italy
M. Grazia Cece, R.T.
- Radiotherapy Unit, Department of Oncology, “John Paul II” Center for High Technology Research and Education in Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University, Campobasso, Italy
- Present address: Department of Radiology, General Hospital “SS. Annunziata,” Cento, Italy
Massimo Cirocco, R.T.
- Radiotherapy Unit, Department of Oncology, “John Paul II” Center for High Technology Research and Education in Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University, Campobasso, Italy
- Present address: Department of Nuclear Medicine, General Hospital, Grosseto, Italy
Augusto Di Castelnuovo, M.S.
- Research Laboratories, “John Paul II” Center for High Technology Research and Education in Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University, Campobasso, Italy
Licia Iacoviello, Ph.D.
- Research Laboratories, “John Paul II” Center for High Technology Research and Education in Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University, Campobasso, Italy
Vincenzo Valentini, M.D.
- Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli,” Catholic University, Rome, Italy
Numa Cellini, M.D.
- Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli,” Catholic University, Rome, Italy
Giovanni de Gaetano, Ph.D.
- Research Laboratories, “John Paul II” Center for High Technology Research and Education in Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University, Campobasso, Italy

Received 22 July 2008; received in revised form 5 September 2008; accepted 1 October 2008. published online 22 April 2009.

Purpose

Given the high cost and side effects of radioprotective agents such as amifostine, attention has been focused on potentially equally effective but less expensive and toxic natural substances. We evaluated the potential radioprotective effects of wine in preventing skin toxicity in patients with breast cancer.

Methods and Materials

Before treatment, the medical history and habits of patients were assessed and the information recorded in their clinical folders. Patients were divided into three groups based on the dose/fractionation scheme used: control group, 60.4 Gy (standard technique); Modulated Accelerated Radiotherapy in Adjuvant treatment of breast cancer (MARA)-1 protocol group, 44 Gy (concomitant boost to tumoral bed); and MARA-2 protocol group, 60 Gy (concomitant boost to tumoral bed). The impact of the following variables on acute skin toxicity was evaluated by chart review: radiotherapy protocol, planning target volume (PTV), comorbidity (e.g., hypertension and diabetes), hemoglobin level before therapy, adjuvant hormone therapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, cigarette smoking, and drinking habits.

Results

The study population consisted of 348 patients. More severe skin toxicity was significantly associated with the radiotherapy protocol (p < 0.001) and median PTV (p = 0.005). In addition, the incidence of acute toxicity of Grade 2 or greater was higher in patients without alcohol intake (38.4% vs. 22.3%, p = 0.021). The daily amount of alcohol intake also influenced the incidence of skin toxicity, with an incidence of 38.4% in patients with no wine intake, 31.8% in patients drinking half a glass per day, 13.6% in patients drinking one glass per day, and 35.0% in patients drinking two glasses per day. Multivariate analysis showed that wine intake, PTV, and radiotherapy protocol were all significantly correlated with acute toxicity.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that wine may have a radioprotective effect; however, prospective studies are needed to confirm this beneficial effect of wine and its components.

Wine, Radioprotective effect, Breast cancer, Radiotherapy