Pentoxifylline and vitamin E for treating radiation-induced fibrosis in breast and head and neck cancer patients.

PURPOSE

The oncological treatment of breast (BC) and head and neck cancer (H&NC) patients often includes radiotherapy. One serious side effect of this treatment is radiation-induced fibrosis (RIF), for which no established treatment currently exists. Studies have shown a potential effect of pentoxifylline and vitamin E on RIF. In this retrospective analysis, we investigate the effect of pentoxifylline and vitamin E on RIF in a cohort of BC and H&NC patients.

METHODS

Consecutive BC and H&NC patients referred to the Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, for treatment of severe and discomforting RIF during 2016-2023 were included. After initial evaluation, 61 patients-29 BC and 32 H&NC patients-started treatment with oral pentoxifylline 400 mg and vitamin E (290-350 mg) twice daily. In total, 54 patients-24 BC and 30 H&NC patients-were treated and finally evaluated. The endpoint was patient-reported and/or clinical treatment response.

RESULTS

Overall, 18 BC (75%) and 7 H&NC patients (23%) reported subjective improvement following treatment. A clinical treatment response with partial or complete regression of RIF was seen in all patients with subjective effect, except in one BC and one H&NC patient.

CONCLUSION

Pentoxifylline and vitamin E might be an effective treatment for a selected group of patients with RIF. The therapeutic effect was more pronounced in BC patients compared to those with H&NC. Further randomized and blinded studies in larger populations are needed to validate the findings.