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Effects of doxorubicin-containing chemotherapy and a combination with l-carnitine on oxidative metabolism in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma

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Abstract

Purpose: Chemotherapy regimens based on anthracycline (doxorubicin) are well established in lymphoma therapy. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of l-carnitine with a view to reducing cytotoxic side-effects. Methods: 20 patients were scheduled to receive 3 g l-carnitine before each chemotherapy cycle, followed by 1 g l-carnitine/day during the following 21 days, while 20 patients received a placebo (randomized controlled trial). The plasma lipid profile and relative mRNA levels of key enzymes of oxidative metabolism (carnitine acyltransferases) were measured at three points of time. In addition to the clinical parameters we used the mRNA of white blood cells to evaluate the toxic effects on cardiomyocytes. Results: In the present study no cardiotoxicity of anthracycline therapy was detected. Carnitine treated patients showed a rise in plasma carnitine which led to an increase of relative mRNA levels from CPT1A (liver isoform of carnitine palmitoyltransferase) and OCTN2 (carnitine transporter). Following chemotherapy, an activation of carnitine acyltransferases was associated with a stimulation of OCTN2 in both groups. Conclusion: Biochemical and molecular analyses indicated a stimulation of oxidative metabolism in white blood cells through carnitine uptake.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by Bürgermeisterfonds der Stadt Wien and Fresenius Kabi Austria. Thanks are due to Sigrid Lechner for expert technical assistance and to the staff of the 3rd Dept. of Medicine, Hanusch Hospital for medical support.

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Correspondence to Heidrun Karlic.

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Waldner, R., Laschan, C., Lohninger, A. et al. Effects of doxorubicin-containing chemotherapy and a combination with l-carnitine on oxidative metabolism in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 132, 121–128 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-005-0054-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-005-0054-8

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