A new administration schedule for amifostine as a radioprotector in cancer therapy.

Thus far, amifostine, a new radioprotective substance, had been given as short infusion 30 minutes before radiotherapy. In our investigation for the first time we have administered the substance as bolus injection (200 mg/m2 dissolved in 10 ml sodium chloride 0.9%). 42 patients with malignancies of the head and neck region, recurrences of rectal carcinomas and bronchial carcinomas had been treated with different solution volumes over different time periods. Using amifostine as a bolus injection had led to a statistically significant decrease in acute toxicity (p = 0.012). In comparison to short infusion (15 minutes) we have documented the same radioprotective impact. Hence, bolus injection of amifostine is feasible and can spare manpower and time in the department of radiotherapy.