Prevention of Irinotecan Induced Diarrhea by Probiotics

Diarrhea is a relatively common complication in patients with cancer. At its inception, several mechanisms participated; malabsorption on the basis of mucositis induced by chemotherapy, dysbiosis induced by broad-spectrum antibiotics and predisposition to infectious diarrhea in immunocompromised patients. Some cytostatics and their metabolites can also induce diarrhea directly due to effect on the intestinal mucosa.

Use of probiotics in prevention and treatment of diarrhea relies on both the theoretical assumptions and the results of several clinical trials. Lactic acid bacteria involved in the treatment of dysbiosis, compete for substrate with pathogenic bacteria, produce bacterio-cins, increase transepithelial resistance. Their enzymatic activity affects activation or deactivation of metabolites which cause diarrhea. Production of short chain fatty acids, which are important for the maintenance of intestinal mucosal cells also contributes to their antidiarrhoeal effect.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, multicentre trial was designed to evaluate potential of probiotics to prevent grade 3-4 diarrhea in patients treated by irinotecan based chemotherapy during first 6 weeks of irinotecan based chemotherapy

In preventing antibiotic-induced diarrhea in double blind placebo controlled clinical trials it was found protective effect of probiotics containing S. boulardii and Enterococcus faecium. Also in preventing infectious diseases associated with Clostridium difficile, administration of probiotics resulted in a significant decrease in disease recurrence. Duration of rotavirus diarrhea, in children and in immunocompromised HIV-positive patients was significantly shortened after administration of strains of Lactobacilli and S. boulardii respectively.

Meta-analysis of 9 randomized, placebo-controlled trials showed significant reduction in the incidence of antibiotic associated diarrhea in children. Another meta-analysis in which 23 studies were included showed significant reduction in risk of infectious diarrhea. Most of these studies was carried out with the probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG®.

The incidence of diarrhea during treatment of acute leukemia is between 15 to 80%. Severe diarrhea level 3 to 4 is present in 8-20% and is much more common during the induction phase of chemotherapy. In phase II study performed in NCI Slovakia preventive administration of Enterococcus faecium probiotic strain M-74 with selenium was associated with low incidence (14%) and severity (all grade 1) diarrhea, despite the fact that half of the patients received induction therapy. The investigators noted safety of probiotic strain during 370 days of severe neutropenia Gr 3-4.

The incidence of irinotecan induced diarrhea varies between 60-90%, by which the incidence of severe diarrhea is 20-40%. In phase II studies, its incidence was 17% in NCI Slovakia, but irinotecan dose was reduced by 25% in all patients. Diarrhea is an important factor in morbidity and mortality during irinotecan based chemotherapy. Predisposing factors are age over 65 years, ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) PS (Performance status) of 1 and previous abdominopelvic radiation. One of irinotecan metabolites, SN-38 (7-ethyl-10 hydroxycamptothecin), which is glucuronidated in the liver and subsequently expelled into intestine is main cause of diarrhea. Due to the bacterial enzyme beta-D-glucuronidase it is deconjugated in intestinal lumen again. This form causes direct damage to intestinal mucosa associated with malabsorption of water, electrolytes and development of diarrhea.

Reduction of activity of intestinal beta-D-glucuronidase using broad-spectrum antibiotics and/or beta-D-glucuronidase inhibitors is one of the ways to avoid irinotecan induced diarrhea. It is also possible to modulate metabolism of irinotecan using cyclosporine and phenobarbital to reduce biliary excretion of SN-38 and induction of glucuronidation. Promising results were shown using activated charcoal, which has resulted in the absorption of SN-38. Also other methods were tested: oral alkalization, thalidomide, amifostine, but without success. These procedures have been studied only in phase II trials. It is known that some probiotic bacteria, reduce activity of intestinal beta-D-glucuronidase and therefore these bacteria could be applied in the prevention of diarrhea in patients treated by irinotecan based therapy.

Results of phase III study, that was prematurely terminated due to poor accrual showed benefit of Colon Dophilus on irinotecan induced gastrointestinal toxicity. In this trial, 46 patients with colorectal cancer starting a new line of irinotecan based therapy were enrolled. 5-fluorouracil/capecitabine along with irinotecan was administered to 26 (56.5%) patients and 22 (47.8%) patients received biological therapy as well. Patients were randomized 1:1 to probiotic (PRO) or placebo arm (PLA). Probiotic formula Colon Dophilus, was administered at a dose of 10x109 CFU (colony forming unit) of bacteria tid, orally for 12 weeks of chemotherapy. Primary endpoint was incidence of grade 3/4 diarrhea. 23 patients were randomized to PRO and 23 patients to PLA. Administration of probiotics compared to placebo led to a reduction in the incidence of severe diarrhea of grade 3 or 4 (0% for PRO vs. 17.4% for PLA, p = 0.11), as well as reduction of the overall incidence of diarrhea (39.1% for PRO vs. 60.9% for PLA, p = 0.24) and incidence of enterocolitis (0% for PRO vs. 8.7% for PLA). Patients on PRO used less loperamide compared to PLA (mean duration of loperamide use: 4.5 days for PRO vs. 10.4 days for PLA, p = 0.45; mean number of loperamide tablets: 5.9 for PRO vs. 37.7 for PLA, p = 0.49). There was no infection caused by probiotic strains recorded.

Two recent studies in murine model showed, that bacteria in the gut enhance the body's immune response to cancer, mobilizing immune cells to kill cancer cells, not just in the gut but throughout the body as well. The researchers also found that the bacteria affect the efficacy of three different cancer treatments.

Given their low toxicity, good tolerability, probiotics may be an important part of supportive therapy and moreover they can enhance efficacy of anticancer therapy. The objective of this phase III. trial is to determine effectiveness of the probiotic formula Probio-Tec® BG-VCap-6.5 in the prophylaxis of irinotecan induced diarrhea due to reduction intestinal beta-D-glucuronidase activity and further biochemical and physiological actions of specific strains Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12® and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG®, LGG® that are active substances of used food supplement - PROBIO-FIX INUM®. Both of strains are well-documented. LGG® has been studied in more over 800 scientific publications. Studies have found that LGG® supports immunity, enhances antibody formation during viral infection, and decreases incidence of gastrointestinal infections, antibiotic associated diarrhoea, and respiratory infections. In addition to its well-researched health benefits, the safety of LGG® has been more widely studied than any other probiotic bacterium. It has a safe history of use in foods and is extensively documented in more over 200 clinical studies.

The large number of clinical studies and scientific publications indicate that the BB-12® probiotic strain - alone or in combination with other of probiotic strains (e.g. LGG®) - may have beneficial effects regarding the gastrointestinal and immune areas. BB-12® is considered to be best studied probiotic bifidobacteria, described in more than 360 scientific studies.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* signed written informed consent
* age \> 18 years
* histologically proven colorectal cancer patients starting new line of chemotherapy based on irinotecan
* ECOG PS 0 - 1 at study entry
* life expectancy more than 3 months
* absence of any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule;

Exclusion Criteria:

* impossibility to take oral medication
* active infection treated by antibiotic therapy
* ileostoma
* hypersensitivity to study drug
* any concurrent malignancy other than non-melanoma skin cancer, no other cancer in past 5 years.
* serious concomitant systemic disorders or diseases incompatible with the study (at the discretion of investigator )