Effect of Sucrose on Cisplatin-induced Fatigue-like Behavior in Mice: Comparison With Fructose and Glucose.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Fatigue is the most common symptom in patients with cancer undergoing radiation therapy or cancer chemotherapy. However, cancer-related fatigue remains undertreated and poorly understood.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mice were administered a single dose of cisplatin (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) or saline (as a control) and then treated with sucrose, fructose, glucose (each at 500 or 5,000 mg/kg, orally), or saline (control) daily for 4 days. cisplatin-induced fatigue-like behavior was investigated by assessment of running activity on a treadmill. The influence of glucose intake on tumor growth was also examined in Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC)-bearing mice.

RESULTS

Administration of sucrose and glucose improved cisplatin-induced fatigue-like behavior in mice, whereas administration of fructose showed only slight antifatigue effects. Although glucose-fed mice showed increased tumor growth, this was balanced out by the powerful cytotoxicity of cisplatin.

CONCLUSION

Sucrose, and especially glucose, may improve patient quality of life during treatment with anticancer agents by preventing fatigue without interfering with the antitumor effects of cisplatin.