Cancer is a general term for a group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Other terms used are malignancy and neoplasm. One of the defining characteristics of cancer is the rapid generation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries and can invade nearby parts of the body and spread to other organs, the latter known as metastasis. Extensive metastasis is the leading cause of cancer death.
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million (or nearly one in six) deaths in 2020. Approximately 400,000 children develop cancer every year. Currently, each cancer type requires specific treatment options. Treatment usually includes surgery, radiation therapy, and/or systemic therapy (chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted biologic therapy). Appropriate selection of treatment options takes into account both the cancer and the circumstances of the individual receiving treatment. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy can also cause damage to the body.
A large number of experiments at home and abroad have proven that glutathione can slow down the damage caused to the body by radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
01. Glutathione slows down chemotherapy-related kidney damage
In 2020, an article published in the "Chinese Journal of Health Inspection" explored the impact of reduced glutathione on kidney injury markers in patients with chemotherapy-related kidney injury and its clinical significance.
The researchers included 146 patients with chemotherapy-related kidney injury who were admitted to the People's Hospital of Zhuji City, Zhejiang Province from October 2015 to October 2018 and divided them into a study group and a control group according to the random number table method, with 73 cases in each. , the control group was given conventional treatment, and the research group was given reduced glutathione on the basis of conventional treatment. Both groups were treated continuously for 30 days. Comparison of renal injury markers [urinary kidney injury molecule 1 (Kim-1), sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3), human neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), human fiber Lysinogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and serum cystatin-C (Cys-C)] levels and renal function indicators [urinary microalbumin (M-ALB), 24 h urine protein quantification (24 h Upro), serum β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), creatinine (Scr), urea nitrogen (BUN)] levels.
After treatment, the levels of urinary Kim-1, NGAL, NHE3, PAI-1, serum Cys-C, urinary M-ALB, 24 h Upro, and serum β2-MG, Scr, and BUN in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment. The levels of urinary Kim-1, NGAL, NHE3, PAI-1, serum Cys-C, urinary M-ALB, 24 h Upro, and serum β2-MG, Scr, and BUN in patients were significantly lower than those in the control group.
The results show that reduced glutathione can significantly reduce the levels of renal injury markers in patients with chemotherapy-related renal injury, and can effectively promote the recovery of renal function.
02. Glutathione prevents and treats radiation-induced lung injury
An article published in "Clinical Medical Research and Practice" in 2023 analyzed the application effect of reduced glutathione in radiotherapy for lung cancer.
According to the clinical treatment plan, the researchers divided 80 lung cancer radiotherapy patients admitted to Yulin First Hospital from January to December 2019 into a conventional group (40 cases, conventional radiotherapy) and an observation group (40 cases, conventional radiotherapy + radiotherapy). prototypic glutathione). Compare the treatment effects of the two groups.
Results After 8 and 16 weeks of radiotherapy, the incidence rate of grade 1 and above radiation-induced lung injury in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the conventional group. After treatment, the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and glutathione (GSH) in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the conventional group, and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly lower than those in the conventional group. Group. After treatment, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the observation group The level was significantly lower than that of the conventional group.
The results show that reduced glutathione as an auxiliary drug for patients with lung cancer radiotherapy can reduce the degree of radiation-induced lung injury, oxidative stress and inflammatory response, and is beneficial to the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced lung injury.
03. Glutathione can reduce liver function damage caused by chemotherapy
In 2023, an article published in the International Medical and Health Herald observed the clinical effect of reduced glutathione (GSH) on reducing oxidative stress and liver toxicity in patients undergoing chemotherapy for liver cancer.
Researchers divided 103 liver cancer patients admitted to Shangqiu First People's Hospital from March 2020 to August 2021 into an observation group (52 cases) and a control group (51 cases) using the lottery method. There were 30 males and 22 females in the observation group, aged (60.44±5.25) years old; there were 31 males and 20 females in the control group, aged (61.25±5.47) years old. Both groups received chemotherapy uniformly, and the observation group received GSH adjuvant chemotherapy. The changes in liver function and oxidative stress response of the two groups of patients before and after treatment were compared. After treatment, all patients were followed up for 1 year, and the occurrence of chemotherapy-related complications and survival conditions were compared between the two groups.
After treatment, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBil), malondialdehyde (MDA), and catalase (CAT) in the observation group were all lower than Control group. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the observation group was higher than that in the control group; during the follow-up period, the incidence rate of chemotherapy-related complications in the observation group was 5.77%, which was lower than 19.61% in the control group; the quality of life of liver cancer patients in the observation group (QLQ-C30) scores and quality of life (QLQ-HCC 18) scores were lower than those of the control group.
The results show that the use of GSH adjuvant chemotherapy can reduce the oxidative stress response and liver function damage in patients with liver cancer, and has positive significance in reducing the risk of chemotherapy-related complications and improving the quality of life and quality of life.
Post time: Dec-28-2023