Natural cytotoxicity in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Effects of L-arginine supplementation

Certain cytotoxic drugs have been shown to suppress host anti-cancer defence mechanisms. The amino acid L-arginine can significantly enhance natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell cytotoxicity in patients with locally advanced breast cancer. In this study, the effect of L-arginine supplementation on natural cytotoxicity was determined in patients with breast cancer receiving CHOP chemotherapy. This cytotoxic regimen caused a transient immunosuppression, maximal on day 14 of each cycle (P < 0.001); this was not cumulative during the four cycles of treatment. Those patients receiving L-arginine supplementation (30 g/day for 3 days prior to each course of chemotherapy) had a smaller and delayed onset of immunosuppression (day 14), compared with those patients who had CHOP only (day 9). L-Arginine was able to repeatedly stimulate NK and LAK cell cytotoxicity in patients who were receiving CHOP chemotherapy (P < 0.003). In conclusion further studies are required to determine the optimal use of chemotherapeutic agents, alone or in combination with immunostimulators, to avoid inhibition of host anti-cancer defence mechanisms.