Influence of an elemental diet on 5-fluorouracil-induced morphological changes in the mouse salivary gland and colon.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The elemental diet (ED) Elental® reportedly reduces adverse reactions to chemotherapy in digestive system cancer patients; however, the mechanism is unclear. Therefore, we verified the protective effect of ED against gastrointestinal disorders induced by the antineoplastic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).

METHODS:

After 5 days of tail vein injections of 40 mg/kg/day 5-FU in female BALB/c mice, the mice were given oral ED (ED group) or dextrin with the same number of calories (control group). We measured the weight of salivary glands and the PAS-positive area of colonic mucosa and verified the antitumor effect in tumor-bearing mice given 5-FU and ED.

RESULTS:

Although body weight decreased after 5-FU treatment, ED group mice weighed more than control group mice. Additionally, although control mice developed diarrhea after 5-FU treatment, the ED group showed only loose stools. The control group saliva volume was approximately one sixth of the vehicle group volume after 5-FU treatment; this was improved to approximately half in the ED group. The area ratio of PAS-positive cells in the colonic mucosa was reduced by 5-FU treatment, with the ratio being higher in the ED group than that in the control group. Similar tumor growth suppression was observed in the 5-FU and ED groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

ED alleviated adverse reactions to 5-FU without affecting antitumor activity. Protection against 5-FU-induced weight loss was potentially due to both improved nutritional support with combined ingredients and prevention of diarrhea that is associated with reduced colonic goblet cells and decreased saliva production from reduced salivary gland contraction.

• Authors: Rei Kawashima, Mio Fujimaki, Yuka Ikenoue, Keiko Danjo, Wasaburo Koizumi, Takafumi Ichikawa
• Journal: Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (Support Care Cancer) Vol. 24 Issue 4 Pg. 1609-16 (Apr 2016) ISSN: 1433-7339 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 26399405 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Fluorouracil

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Body Weight (drug effects)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Colon (drug effects)
• Diarrhea (chemically induced, prevention & control)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Fluorouracil (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Food, Formulated
• Humans
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Salivary Glands (drug effects)