The effect of selenium yeast in the prevention of adverse reactions related to platinum-based combination therapy in patients with malignant tumors

M. Chen, H. Zhang, W.-X. Cui, M.-Y. Chen, X.-P. Cheng

Department of Oncology, Anhui No. 2 Provincial People’s Hospital, Hefei, China. mouche8110614@163.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this was study was to analyze the effect of selenium yeast in the prevention of adverse reactions related to platinum-based combination therapy in patients with malignant tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 86 patients with malignant tumors treated in Anhui No. 2 Provincial People’s Hospital were randomized to receive either platinum-containing combined regimen with selenium yeast at a dose of 200 ug daily (observation group) or platinum-containing combined regimen without selenium yeast (control group), with 43 cases in each group.

RESULTS: The platinum-containing combined regimen exhibited similar total effectiveness either with (25.58%) or without selenium yeast (23.26%) (p>0.05). Patients with selenium yeast treatment after chemotherapy had better appetites and more stable body weights than those without selenium yeast (p<0.05). The platinum-containing combined regimen significantly improved the quality of life of the patients, as evidenced by the elevated Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scores of the two groups, and selenium yeast treatment potentiated this improvement (p<0.05). Selenium yeast treatment significantly reduced the incidence of adverse reactions in patients after chemotherapy by 23.26% (p<0.05), and patients also experienced milder adverse reactions after selenium yeast administration (z=-2.438, p=0.015). Chemotherapy with selenium yeast treatment provided better pain mitigation for patients vs. without selenium yeast administration (Z=0.854, p=0.041 <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: In the clinical treatment of patients with malignant tumors, a 200 ug dose of selenium yeast significantly reduced the adverse reactions related to chemotherapy, improved the patient’s post-chemotherapy appetite, prevented weight loss, and provided significant pain mitigation. Therefore, selenium yeast may offer a viable alternative for the management of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to enhance treatment effectiveness and reduce adverse events in clinical practice.

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