PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - REO HAMAGUCHI
AU  - TAKASHI ITO
AU  - RYOKO NARUI
AU  - HIROMASA MORIKAWA
AU  - SHINJI UEMOTO
AU  - HIROMI WADA
TI  - Effects of Alkalization Therapy on Chemotherapy Outcomes in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Case-Control Study
AID  - 10.21873/invivo.12080
DP  - 2020 Sep 01
TA  - In Vivo
PG  - 2623--2629
VI  - 34
IP  - 5
4099  - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/34/5/2623.short
4100  - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/34/5/2623.full
SO  - In Vivo2020 Sep 01; 34
AB  - Background/Aim: Neutralization of the acidic tumor microenvironment, which is associated with both progression and drug resistance of cancer cells, may be a new treatment option for progressing forms of cancer. We conducted a case-control study to investigate the effects of alkalization therapy, consisting of an alkaline diet with supplementary oral sodium bicarbonate, in patients with metastatic or recurrent pancreatic cancer (study registration no.: UMIN000036126). Patients and Methods: Thirty-six patients in the alkalization group (Karasuma Wada Clinic; alkalization therapy plus chemotherapy) were retrospectively compared to 89 patients in the control group (Kyoto University Hospital; chemotherapy only). Results: The median overall survival (OS) in the alkalization group was significantly longer than that in the control group (15.4 vs. 10.8 months; p<0.005). In the alkalization group, mean urine pH was significantly increased after alkalization therapy [6.38±0.85 (before) vs. 6.80±0.71 (after); p<0.05]. Furthermore, the median OS of patients with increased urine pH (pH>7.0 or ΔpH>1.0) in the alkalization group was significantly longer than that of the control group. Conclusion: Alkalization therapy may enhance the effects of chemotherapy in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.