Recently, it is reported that a w-3 fatty acid-containing diet (Racol(R)) enhances innate immunity and reduces mucosaldamage in the smallintestine during chemotherapy. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of a w-3 fatty acid-containing diet (Racol(R)) on the toxicity of chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for patients with esophagealcancers. Toxicity of CRT was evaluated in 10 patients who took Rakol / (R)at a maximum dose of 600 mL/day during CRT, compared with 10 patients who did not take Rakol(R). Regarding blood toxicity, the decrease of platelets did not differ between the former and the latter. However, the incidence of grade 2 approximately 4 neutropenia was lower in the former than in the latter (p=0.0043). With regard to gastrointestinaltoxicity, the incidence of grade 2 approximately 4 diarrhea was also lower in the former than in the latter (p=0.0118). Moreover, the incidence of grade 2 approximately 4 stomatitis/pharyngitis tended to decrease in patients who took Rakol(R)compared with those who did not (p=0.0812). The current results indicated that a w-3 fatty acid-containing diet (Racol(R)) may be beneficialto patients with esophagealcancers who receive CRT by reduc- ing CRT toxicity.

Minami Y, Miyata H, Doki Y, Yano M, Yamasaki M, Takiguchi S, Fujiwara Y, Yasuda T, Monden M.

Dept. of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University.