López-Martínez B, Gutiérrez-Romero M, Ruiz-Bedolla E

Language: Spanish
References: 14
Page: 3-8
PDF size: 310.03 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Background: There are few therapeutic agents that are effective for patients with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia, furthermore they are not of easy access, are very expensive and with several adverse effects.
L-canavanine is an amino acid that induces apoptosis and enhances some chemotherapics when administering to patients with malignant hemopathy as leukemia and might strengthen the action of certain therapeutic agents.
Objectives: To assess L-canavanine as adjuvant therapeutic agent in the treatment of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and to identify its adverse effects.
Material and method: A descriptive and prospective study that included patients with diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia to who by randomness was administered L-canavanine or placebo 600 mg/m² separated in 3 dosage daily during 60 days. Then were analyzed serum levels of L-canavanine, blood cytology, liver function tests, cholesterol and tryglicerides, as well as the side effects.
Results: Patients receiving L-canavanine had good levels of platelets, increased their physical activity and improved their levels of laboratory tests in comparison with patients receiving placebo.
Conclusions: L-canavanine is a good option as therapeutic aid with better clinical outcomes in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia to long time because it is a product cheap and with few side effects.

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