ubiquinone and Precursor-Cell-Lymphoblastic-Leukemia-Lymphoma

Two groups of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, treated with anthracyclines (ANT), were studied: group I, consisting of 10 patients, with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) therapy; group II, consisting of 10 patients without CoQ therapy. The ANT cumulative dose was 240 +/- 20.0 mg/m2 in group I and 252.0 +/- 20.1 mg/m2 in group II. Echocardiographic study was performed at the beginning, at the cumulative dose of 180 mg/m2 and at the end of therapy with ANT. Percentage left ventricular fractional shortening (%LVFS) decreased from baseline (40.36 +/- 4.6) to end value (35.82 +/- 5.02) (P < 0.05) in group I; %LVFS decreased from baseline (39.89 +/- 4.37) to end value (33.43 +/- 3.46) (P < 0.002) in group II. Interventricular septum wall thickening decreased only in group II from baseline (46.10 +/- 10.1) to end therapy (27.00 +/- 18.54) (P < 0.01). Septum wall motion abnormalities were detected only in 2 patients of group II. These data demonstrate a protective effect of CoQ on cardiac function during therapy with ANT.

Topics: Adolescent; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Cardiomyopathies; Child; Coenzymes; Daunorubicin; Echocardiography; Humans; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome; Ubiquinone; Ventricular Function, Left

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is used by the body as an endogenous antioxidant. This property combined with its essential function in mitochondrial energy production suggests that it may have therapeutic potential in cancer treatment. As part of the body's antioxidant defence against free radical production, CoQ10 concentrations may change during anti-cancer chemotherapy. Our study measured CoQ10 concentration in the plasma of 27 children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) at the time of diagnosis, during induction (protocol ALL-BFM 2000), and post induction treatment. The starting values were compared to the CoQ10 concentrations in 92 healthy children. The total CoQ10 concentration and its redox status were measured by HPLC using electrochemical detection and internal standardisation. While the CoQ10 concentration in the plasma of children with ALL was within a normal range at the time of diagnosis (0.99 +/- 0.41 pmol/microl), a drastic increase was observed during induction treatment (2.19 +/- 1.01 pmol/mul on day 33). This increase was accompanied by shift in the redox status in favour of the reduced form of CoQ10. The increase in CoQ10 concentration during induction treatment may be attributed to the activation of a natural antioxidative defence mechanism, endocrine influence on CoQ10 synthesis from steroid treatment, or a shift in CoQ10 from the damaged cells to the plasma after cell lysis.

Topics: Adolescent; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Antioxidants; Asparaginase; Child; Child, Preschool; Coenzymes; Daunorubicin; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Prednisone; Ubiquinone; Vincristine