Feasibility single-arm study of a medical device containing Desmodium adscendens and Lithothamnium calcareum combined with chemotherapy in head and neck cancer patients

Abstract

Background

Neoplasms of the head and neck represent approximately 5% of cancers and they require complex multidisciplinary clinical management. Desmodium adscendens (Desmodium) is a plant that possesses anti-allergic, antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties. Lithothamnium calcareum (Lithothamnium) is a calcified seaweed that possesses remineralization properties and the ability to maintain homeostasis.

Aim

In this single-arm study, we investigated the efficacy of a combination therapy based on Desmovit^® which contains Desmodium and Lithothamnium, and chemotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer.

Methods

Twelve patients with histological or cytological diagnosis of stage IV head and neck cancer were enrolled in this study that was approved by the ethics committee of the Unità Operativa Complessa (UOC) di Oncologia Medica Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord and followed the Declaration of Helsinki guidelines. The patients were monitored by investigation of the performance status according to the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), which evaluates the plasma level of C-reactive protein and albumin levels, and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) examination. Pain and fatigue were also monitored using the visual analog scale and visual analog fatigue scale, respectively. All the above parameters were assessed biweekly to week 10.

Results

GPS, ECOG, and albumin remained stable throughout the study with a trend towards a decrease in GPS and albumin at week 10 post-treatment. Pain significantly improved at week 8 (P<0.05) while fatigue improved at weeks 8 and 10 (all P<0.01).

Conclusion

We found that chemotherapy, combined with Desmodium and Lithothamnium, improved pain and fatigue in head and neck cancer patients, although we cannot confirm if this was due to Desmodium and Lithothamnium or chemotherapy. The improvement in pain and fatigue was supported by the ECOG performance status remaining stable with the highest score being equal to 2 throughout the study and a trend towards an improvement in GPS performance status and albumin levels.

Keywords:

• pain
• fatigue
• ECOG
• GPS
• head and neck
• cancer
• combination therapy
• Desmodium adscendens
• Lithothamnium calcareum

Introduction

The incidence of head and neck cancer is increasing. Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common neoplasm, with over 600,000 new cases diagnosed annually worldwide.¹ More than 90% of tumors in the head and neck region are squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.² In over 60% of the patients, the disease is discovered at an advanced stage requiring a combined multimodal strategy to attempt its treatment.³ The 5-year survival rates for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma ranges from 35% to 55%.⁴ Smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, and a poor diet are important risk factors in the Western world.² Among the syndromes associated with advanced cancer, neoplastic cachexia represents the most frequent syndrome.⁵ Over 70% of patients affected by cancer, especially in advanced stages, develop signs and symptoms of cachexia and about 20% die as a consequence of malnutrition.⁶ Neoplastic cachexia is associated with biochemical and metabolic alterations such as imbalance of glucose metabolism due to the increased gluconeogenesis and consequent loss of protein and lipid reserves.⁶ Alterations in protein metabolism determine the increase in serum levels of protein-inducing factors and increased protein degradation in muscle tissue with loss of lean mass that is already evident at the early stages of the disease.⁷ In addition, the production of lipid-metabolising factor induces consequent lipolysis that results in patients’ progressive weight loss.⁸ Pro-inflammatory cytokines contribute to the pathophysiology of neoplastic cachexia, such as interleukins 1 and 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interferon gamma, which in turn results in an increase in C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin that are responsible for increased fatty acid turnover and muscle proteolysis.⁹ Neoplastic cachexia is frequently associated with anorexia due to qualitative and quantitative alterations in hypothalamic signals, including the inhibition of the orexigenic effect of neuropeptide Y, induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the increase in corticotropin-releasing factor and melanocortin.¹⁰ In order to address nutritional deficiencies frequently observed in the neoplastic patient, it is important to diagnose the neoplasia early allowing the prompt use of effective strategies to prevent weight loss and reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Studies have shown an interaction between chronic inflammation and malignant neoplasms with cytokines playing a key role in regulating inflammation during physiological immune response and development of cancer.¹¹

Head and neck cancers require a multidisciplinary treatment due not only to the complexity of tumor symptoms, but also to the side effects of chemotherapy, such as severe malnutrition.¹² The integrative support to patients with cancer of the head and neck district during chemotherapy has the purpose of preserving the main metabolic functions, particularly the hepatic, intestinal and renal functions.¹³ In order to preserve the hepatic functions, hepatoprotective supplements have been employed. For instance, Desmodium adscendens (Desmodium), a plant of African origin with anti-allergic, antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties, has active constituents to preserve liver function, mainly contained in the trunk and leaves, such as triterpenic saponosides, soy saponins, indole alkaloids, fatty acids, flavonoids, tannins, and sterol derivatives.¹⁴ In traditional African medicine, Desmodium extracts are used for the treatment of asthma and liver diseases.¹⁵ Desmodium has also anti-allergic properties that are mediated by the partial inhibition of the biochemical pathway of arachidonic acid synthesis.¹⁶ For this reason, Desmodium is used for the integrated treatment of allergic syndromes and pro-inflammatory states mediated by arachidonic acid.^17,18

Lithotamnium calcareum (Lithothamnium), a calcified seaweed, contains calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, iron, zinc, fluorine, manganese, cobalt, iodine, alginates and vitamin C.¹⁹ Calcium and magnesium in the form of carbonates are easily and highly adsorbed, ensuring adequate remineralisation and restoration of the acid-base balance of the organism.¹⁹ Furthermore, calcium and magnesium allow the absorption of other minerals, favorably influencing the course of inflammatory articular and muscular pathologies, such as arthritis, tendinitis, and myalgia.²⁰ On the other hand, oligo-elements function to balance the nervous system as demonstrated by several studies conducted to establish the efficacy of single trace elements.^21,22

In this study, we investigated the efficacy of the combination of chemotherapy and a medical device, Desmovit^® (Desmodium and Lithothamnium; PhytoItalia, Corbetta, Milan, Italy), for the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer. The efficacy of the combination therapy on patient survival was not the object of this investigation.

Patients and methods

Patients

Patients signed the informed consent to participate in this study. The ethics committee of the Unità Operativa Complessa (UOC) di Oncologia Medica Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord approved this study that followed the Helsinki declaration guidelines.

Patients were screened between January 2013 and August 2017 and 12 patients were enrolled in this study. Table 1 shows the patients’ demographics. The patients, aged 63±2.3 years (mean ± standard error of the mean), had a histological or cytological diagnosis of head and neck cancer, stage IV (presence or absence of metastasis is described in Table 1) according to the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)²³ and were previously subjected to first-line chemotherapy. They had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status²⁴ equal to or less than 2, a life expectancy of more than 12 weeks, adequate medullary function, and a creatinine clearance greater than 50 mL/min. The inclusion criteria are summarised in Table 2. The exclusion criteria are summarised in Table 3.

Table 1 Patients’ demographics

Patient	Gender	Age	Diagnosis	Cancer stage	Metastasis	Line of chemotherapy	Pain management
1	M	56	Lymph node metastasis from occult cancer	IV	None	II	Paracetamol
2	M	60	Laryngeal cancer	IV	Lung	II	Fentanyl
3	M	57	Pharynx cancer	IV	Lung	III	Fentanyl
4	M	78	Laryngeal cancer	IV	Lung	II	Paracetamol
5	M	58	Hypopharyngeal cancer	IV	Lung	II	Fentanyl
6	M	53	Pharynx cancer	IV	Lung and liver	II	Fentanyl
7	F	66	Oropharyngeal cancer	IV	Lung	II	Fentanyl
8	M	62	Oropharyngeal cancer	IV	Lung and liver	III	Fentanyl
9	M	67	Laryngeal cancer	IV	Lung	III	Fentanyl
10	M	67	Ethmoid sinus cancer	IV	None	II	Paracetamol
11	F	56	Oropharyngeal cancer	IV	Lung	III	Fentanyl
12	M	76	Hypopharyngeal cancer	IV	None	II	Paracetamol

Abbreviations: M, male; F, female.

Table 2 Inclusion criteria

Histological or cytological diagnosis of head and neck cancer

Age ≥18 years

Previous first treatment line for the advanced phase

Performance status according to ECOG ≤2

Life expectancy >12 weeks

Adequate bone marrow, hepatic and renal function

Neutrophils >1.5 × 10^9/L

Platelets >100 × 10^9/L

Total bilirubin <1.5 ULN

AST and ALT <2.5 ULN

Creatinine clearance >50 mL/min

Absence of any psychological, family, social or geographical condition that could compromise protocol compliance and follow-up procedures

Abbreviations: ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate transaminase; ECOG, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; ULN, upper limit of the normal range.

Table 3 Exclusion criteria

Pregnant or breastfeeding

Concurrent diseases that may be exacerbated by study treatments

Documented brain metastases

History of previous neoplasia in the previous 5 years except for spinocellular carcinoma of the skin or cervical carcinoma in situ

Known sensitivity to active ingredients used in this study or to drugs with known similar chemical structure

Therapy

Patients were enrolled to receive a medical device containing Desmodium leaves 300 mg and Lithothamnium whole seaweed 50 mg, three capsules a day, 15 minutes prior to breakfast, lunch and dinner concomitantly with chemotherapy. Eight patients received second-line treatment consisting in a weekly intravenous infusion of paclitaxel at a dosage of 75 mg/m² plus carboplatin (AUC2), weekly. Four patients received chemotherapy consisting of third-line treatment corresponding to a weekly intravenous infusion of methotrexate (40 mg/m²).

Pain management

Four patients received 1,000 mg/day paracetamol every 12 hours throughout the study. The remaining eight patients received transdermal fentanyl for breakthrough pain (25 µg every 72 hours).

Endpoints

The patients were monitored by investigation of the performance status according to the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS),²⁵ which evaluates the plasma level of CRP (measured by immunoturbidimetry) and albumin levels (measured by agarose gel electrophoresis), and the ECOG performance status examination.²⁴ Pain and fatigue were also monitored using the visual analog scale (VAS)²⁶ and visual analog fatigue scale (VAS-F),²⁷ respectively. The GPS was computed on the basis of serum concentrations of CRP and albumin. Patients with an elevated CRP level (>10 mg/L) and a low albumin level (<3.5 g/dL) were classified as having a score of 2, whereas those with only an abnormal CRP level were given a score of 1 and those with a physiological CRP level were given a score of 0, irrespective of the albumin level. GPS was scored on a 0–2 point scale: 0) poor prognosis; 1) intermediate prognosis and 2) good prognosis. The ECOG performance status was measured on a 0–5 point scale: 0, fully active, able to carry on all pre-disease performance without restriction; 1) restricted in physically strenuous activity but ambulatory and able to carry out work of a light or sedentary nature, eg, light housework and office work; 2) ambulatory and capable of all self-care but unable to perform any work activities, active for more than 50% of waking hours; 3) capable of only limited self-care, sedentary for more than 50% of waking hours; 4) completely disabled, cannot perform any self-care, and entirely sedentary; and 5) dead. All the parameters above were monitored at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 post-treatment.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was conducted using GraphPad Prism 6 software (GraphPad Software, Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA). CRP, albumin, VAS and VAS-F data were analysed using two-tailed paired Student’s t-tests for multiple comparisons of each follow-up vs baseline. ECOG and GPS data were analysed using two-tailed paired Mann–Whitney tests for multiple comparisons of each follow-up vs baseline. A P<0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Compliance with the treatment schedule was high and data were collected from an average of 9.5±1.1 (standard error of the mean) patients at each follow-up examination. No deaths were reported during this study. The following toxicities according to the WHO²⁸ were observed: hematological toxicity [neutropenia (grades 1–2), leukopenia (grades 1–2), thrombocytopenia (grades 1–2) and anemia (grades 1–2)], dermatological toxicity (facial folliculitis which resulted in the suspension of the treatment until the rush was resolved in the next 24 hours) (grades 1–2) and oral mucosa toxicity (grade 1). CRP levels were stable throughout the course of the study (Figure 1A). Albumin (Figure 1B), GPS (Figure 1C) and ECOG (Figure 1D) were initially stable with a trend towards a decrease in albumin and GPS and an increase in ECOG at the last assessment at week 10. Throughout the study the ECOG performance status was never higher than 2 in all the patients. Pain significantly improved at week 8 compared to baseline (P<0.05; Figure 1E). Fatigue significantly improved at weeks 8 and 10 compared to baseline (both P<0.01; Figure 1F).

Figure 1 (A) Serum CRP (mg/L); (B) Serum albumin (g/dL); (C) GPS (0–2); (D) ECOG performance status (0–5); (E) VAS pain (0–10 cm); and (F) VAS-F (0–10 cm). *P<0.05 vs baseline; **P<0.01 vs baseline.

Abbreviations: CRP, C-reactive protein; GPS, Glasgow Prognostic Score; ECOG, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; VAS, visual analog scale; VAS-F, visual analog fatigue scale.

Discussion

Treatment with Desmodium and Lithothamnium combined with chemotherapy had a positive effect on ECOG performance status with scores never exceeding 2, and no adverse events throughout the study period. CRP, an indicator of prognosis in cancer patients,²⁹ was stable throughout the course of the study. In addition, ECOG²⁴ and GPS,²⁵ indicators of prognosis and disease impact on the patients’ ability to conduct daily activities, remained stable throughout the study. Pain improved at weeks 8 and 10 and fatigue improved at week 10. A decrease in albumin, a measure of malnutrition, malabsorption, reduced liver function and chronic inflammatory state that characterise patients with head and neck cancer,³⁰ also remained stable throughout the duration of the study. Combination therapy with Desmodium, Lithothamnium and chemotherapy resulted in stable levels of albumin throughout the study period.

Conclusion

The administration of Desmodium and Lithothamnium combined with chemotherapy is a feasible therapy in patients affected by head and neck cancer and results in a significant improvement in pain and fatigue. However, we cannot confirm if this effect was due to Desmodium and Lithothamnium or chemotherapy. The improvement in pain and fatigue was supported by the ECOG performance status remaining stable with the highest ECOG score being equal to 2 throughout the study and a trend towards an improvement in GPS performance status and albumin levels. The positive effect observed in this study on pain, fatigue, albumin, GPS and ECOG performance status suggests that Desmodium and Lithothamnium may modulate pathophysiological components that contribute to head and neck cancer. Further comparative studies including a Desmodium and Lithothamnium arm and a chemotherapy arm in a larger cohort of patients are warranted to confirm our findings.

Acknowledgments

This article was not supported by any funding.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.