Effect of Zinc Sulfate on Overall Survival and Progression-Free Survival in Patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme, a Phase II Study

Background: Glioblastoma is the most prevalent and aggressive adult glial tumor. Patients who receive standard treatment have a mean survival of ۱۲-۱۴ months. Zinc is a micronutrient that has shown to have anticancerous effects. In the in vitro studies zinc had antineoplastic effects on gliobalstoma cells.Method: This is a phase II randomized trial in which ۶۰ patients in two groups were evaluated. The zinc group (۲۹ patients) received zinc sulfate supplement ۵۰ mg orally twice a day and the control group (۳۱ patients) who were selected from historical case sreceived no supplements.Results: Mean overall survival in the case and control groups were ۹.۹۳ (± ۳.۲۹) and ۹.۰ (± ۳.۵۶) months. In the case and control groups, the mean disease-free survival were ۹.۶۲ (SD ± ۳.۳۷) and ۸.۲۶ (SD ± ۳.۴۷) months. These differences were not statistically significant. Although overall survival and recurrence-free survival in patients in the case group was higher than the control group, there was no statistically significant difference (P = ۰.۴۸۵).Conclusion: Zinc consumption was associated with better survival, but these differences were not statistically significant, necessitating further studies.

Keywords:

Glioblastoma multiforme , Chemotherapy , Radiotherapy , Zinc sulfate