Anthracyclines are the most widely used anticancer agents for breast cancer, of which doxorubicin and epirubicin have been reported to have equal efficacy. Unfortunately, the integrity of the immune system of breast cancer patients is severely affected by chemotherapy. This study compared the effect of combination chemotherapy with epirubicin (5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide (FEC)) and doxorubicin (5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide (FDC)) regimens on subsets of the immune cells of patients with primary malignant breast tumors. Our aim was to determine the best regimen that produces the least degree of myelosuppression. Blood from 80 breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (40 FEC and 40 FDC) was taken before chemotherapy and after every cycle (3 weeks) for 6 cycles. Blood was also taken from 40 normal healthy donors who served as normal control. Subsets of lymphocytes T-helper cells (CD3(+)CD4(+)), T-cytotoxic cells (CD3(+) CD8(+)), B-cells (CD19(+) CD20(+)) and NK cells (CD16(+)/CD56(+)CD3(-)) were analyzed by flow cytometry (FacsCalibur, BD) using monoclonal antibodies (Multitest, BD). All patients in the FEC and FDC groups suffered from myelosuppressive side effects. Both regimens led to an increase in the counts of monocytes but decreased polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and lymphocytes. Percentages of T-cytotoxic cells and NK cells were increased, but the percentage of B-cells was dramatically decreased. The phagocytic and intracellular killing ability of PMNs were also suppressed (p<0.01). No significant difference was found between the epirubicin-based regimen and doxorubicin-based regimen with regard to numbers of immune cells, percentages of lymphocytes subsets, Th/CTL ratio, engulfment and killing abilities of PMNs. In conclusion, we found that the epirubicin-based regimen is not superior to the doxorubicin-based regimen with respect to their toxicity of the immune cells, Th/CTL ratio and PMN count and functions. Moreover, both FEC and FDC regimens appear to conserve the cell-mediated immunity response needed for fighting against cancer cells.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is endemic in Southern Chinese and Southeast Asian populations. Geographical and ethnic clustering of the cancer is due to genetic, environmental, and lifestyle risk factors. This case-control study aimed to identify or confirm both genetic and non-genetic risk factors for NPC in one of the endemic countries, Malaysia. Materials and Methods: A panel of 768 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously associated with various cancers and known non-genetic risk factors for NPC were selected and analyzed for their associations with NPC in a case-control study. Results: Statistical analysis identified 40 SNPs associated with NPC risk in our population, including 5 documented previously by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and other case-control studies; the associations of the remaining 35 SNPs with NPC were novel. In addition, consistent with previous studies, exposure to occupational hazards, overconsumption of salt-cured foods, red meat, as well as low intake of fruits and vegetables were also associated with NPC risk. Conclusions: In short, this study confirmed and/or identified genetic, environmental and dietary risk factors associated with NPC susceptibility in a Southeast Asian population.

Background Radiation therapy is the treatment of pelvic cancers, with diarrhea often being the most frequent acute side effect. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) usage in reducing radiotherapy‐induced diarrhea and improving bacterial count, nutrition status, and quality of life (QoL) among cancer patients. Methods Adult patients undergoing pelvic radiation were recruited and randomly assigned to receive supplementation of either 10 g of PHGG or placebo (maltodextrin) twice daily, 14 days prior and 14 days during pelvic radiation. Diarrhea frequency, fecal samples, nutrition status, and QoL were assessed at baseline and days 14, 28 (2 weeks after pelvic radiation), and 45 (at the completion of pelvic radiation, 2 weeks’ postsupplementation). Results A total of 30 patients (mean age 56.5 ± 10.8 years, 75% malnourished) participated. The mean of diarrhea frequency in the intervention group (IG) was higher compared with the control group (CG) from days 14 and 28 but reduced at day 45. There was a significant intervention effect after controlling for confounders (ie, baseline diarrhea, age, nutrition status) (P < .05). Bifidobacterium count increased by double among the IG at 14 days of PHGG supplementation, whereas such trend was not observed in the CG. Conclusion Supplementation of PHGG potentially increased the bifidobacterial count and seemed to have post‐supplementation effects by reducing the frequency of diarrhea upon the completion of pelvic radiation treatment.

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