MUNICH, Germany - A high concentration of multi-strain probiotic helps to reduce mild to moderate episodes of chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea (CID) in cancer patients, according to results of a phase II/III study in India. (1)
Presenting the final results of the study at ESMO 2018 Congress lead investigator, Atul Sharma, Professor of Medical Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, remarked: “This is probably the first large, randomised, placebo-controlled study to look at the role of multi-strain, high dose probiotic in chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea,”.
“Though it did not meet its primary endpoint in reducing incidence of grade 3 and 4 diarrhoea [statistical significance was not met], it helped to reduce the incidence of all grades of diarrhoea. The probiotic also helped in reducing levels of inflammatory markers, the significance of which needs to be ascertained,” he added.
The incidence of grade 3 diarrhoea episodes was 8.0% for patients on probiotics, and 4.1% for those on placebo (p=0.088); and for grade 4 episodes the respective incidences were 2.0% and 0% (p=0.050). For all grades of diarrhoea, there were 199 and 220 episodes in probiotic and placebo groups respectively (p=0.019). Analysis of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), clusterin, and faecal calprotectin showed levels were reduced in patients taking the multi-strain probiotic.
Chemotherapy changes the consistency of the gut microflora and as such it can lead to some serious side-effects. Dr Sharma explained that, “chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea is an under-reported, unpleasant, and sometimes a serious side-effect of chemotherapy. It may be associated with weight-loss, malnutrition, fatigue and malaise, electrolyte imbalance and inability to deliver full dose of chemotherapy on time. It may also cause loss of body fluid resulting into acute renal injury and rarely death.”
To determine whether it improved the balance of intestinal flora and as such reduce these side effects, the study investigated the efficacy of a high potency multi-strain probiotic on patients experiencing CID while receiving fluropyrimidines and/or irinotecan-based cancer therapy.
The multi-strain probiotic consisted of 900 billion colony forming units (CFU) sachet of four strains of lactobacillus, three strains of bifidobacteria and one strain of streptococcus thermophiles. Patients were randomised to receive either one sachet of probiotic twice daily (n=145) or one sachet of placebo twice daily (n=146), started 14 days prior to chemotherapy, and continued for two weeks following chemotherapy cycle three. The vast majority of patients were men, approximately 80%; and aged approximately 46 years. There were no increased incidence of infections.
Adding comment on the study for ESMO was Prof. Michal Mego, Head of 2nd Department of Oncology, Comenius University, National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovak Republic, said: “These data suggest that probiotics have potential to be a simple and novel approach in the reduction of chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea, however confirmatory studies are awaited. As probiotics are living microorganisms there is potential risk of iatrogenic infection in immuno-compromised cancer patients, therefore safety data and adverse events associated with probiotic administration could influence their future role in prevention of chemotherapy induced diarrhoea.”
Reflecting on the accumulation of evidence for the effect of the gut microbiome on cancer therapy, Prof. John B.A.G. Haanen, CSO Immunotherapy, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam and Professor of Translational Immunotherapy of Cancer, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands, said: “Due to the effect of the gut microbiome on response and toxicity in cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and the recently initiated trials with faecal transplantation to improve outcome of checkpoint inhibitors, this study is of interest.”
“Currently unknown is whether probiotics used in this RCT positively or negatively influence the immune system, and with more patients being treated with immunotherapy, before embarking on large-scale usage of probiotics to reduce chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea, their effect on the immune system should be investigated,” he remarked.
Notes to Editors
Please make sure to use the official name of the meeting in your reports: ESMO 2018 Congress
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References
- Abstract 1682O_PR ‘Final results of a phase II/III, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study to investigate the efficacy of a high potency multistrain probiotic, on chemotherapy induced diarrhea in cancer patients receiving Fluropyrimidines and/or Irinotecan based therapy’ will be presented by Dr Atul Sharma during Proffered paper Session on Sunday, 21 October 2018 14:45 to 16:15 (CEST) in Room 20 - Hall B3. Annals of Oncology, Volume 29 Supplement 8 October 2018
About the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)
ESMO is the leading professional organisation for medical oncology. With 18,000 members representing oncology professionals from over 150 countries worldwide, ESMO is the society of reference for oncology education and information. ESMO is committed to offer the best care to people with cancer, through fostering integrated cancer care, supporting oncologists in their professional development, and advocating for sustainable cancer care worldwide.
1682O_PR - Final results of a phase II/III, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study to investigate the efficacy of a high potency multistrain probiotic, on chemotherapy induced diarrhea in cancer patients receiving fluropyrimidines and/or irinotecan based therapy
A. Sharma1, S.P. Chaudhary1, V. Raina1, N.K. Shukla2, V. Sreenivas3, S. Prakash4, P. Priyatma4, S. Bharti4
1Medical Oncology, B.R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (AIMS), New Delhi, India, 2Surgical Oncology, B.R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (AIMS), New Delhi, India, 3Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, 4Lab Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
Background: Chemotherapy-induced diarrhea (CID) is a common side-effect, associated with weight-loss, malnutrition, and treatment breaks. Chemotherapy changes the composition of the native gut microflora. We hypothesized that a high-concentration multi-strain probiotic product might improve the balance of intestinal flora and thus reduce the incidence of severe diarrheal grades.
Methods: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled single center study. Total sample size calculated was 242, however, protocol was amended to enrol 291 patients, accounting for loss to follow up or protocol deviations. Primary end-point was incidence of grade 3 and grade 4 diarrhea. Analysis of serum VEGF & clusterin and fecal calprotectin was also planned. Regulatory approvals and trial registration were done before study initiation. Enrolled patients were randomized to receive 1 sachet bid of study drug (900 billion CFU/sachet of 4 strains of Lactobacillus, 3 strains of Bifidobacteria and 1 strain of Streptococcus thermophilus) or placebo (corn starch), starting 14 days before chemotherapy and continued till two weeks after end of chemotherapy cycle 3.
Results: Between July 2010 to November 2014, 291 patients were enrolled at AIIMS, New Delhi. Type and site of cancer (p=0.882) and chemotherapy regimen (p=0.492) were similar in both groups. Body weight between the two arms was found to be comparable at all study visits. Results are shown in Table-1.
Conclusions: Results indicate a limited role of the probiotic in reducing incidence of severe CID. However, it was able to significantly reduce all grades of diarrheal episodes (taken together), levels of VEGF, fecal calprotectin and clusterin.
Clinical trial identification: Clinical Trial Registry India Identifier : CTRI/2009/091/001042
Legal entity responsible for the study: CD Pharma India Pvt Limited
Funding: CD Pharma India Pvt Limited
Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
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