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Health News Archive 350 - Larynx Cancer
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Folate Supplements Battle Pre-Cancerous Lesions in the Larynx

Folic acid supplements may prevent progression and promote regression of pre-cancerous lesions of the larynx, according to a study in the July 15 2006 issue of Cancer. Researchers from the Universita Cattolica del Saco Cuore in Rome, Italy, enrolled 43 patients with glottic laryngeal leucoplakia to receive folic acid (5 mg, three times daily) for six months in a pilot study; patients were monitored monthly. The RDI (the minimum dose to avoid getting seriously ill from lack of folic acid) is 400 mcg per day.

Every month the participants underwent laryngeal endoscopy with biopsies to monitor their leucoplakia. Over the six months, 28% of the patients had complete resolution of their leucoplakia, 44% had partial resolution, and 28% had no response as seen on microscopic examination of the biopsies. No patients worsened or developed cancer.
In addition, serum folate levels increased significantly, while homocysteine levels showed a significant decrease.

The researchers concluded: "Folate supplementation, alone or in combination with other chemopreventive drugs, could effectively reduce the risk of progression in an already genetically altered mucosa, especially in patients with hypofolatemia."  There appears to be a significant difference between the low RDI and a dose that enables optimal health. 

Source: Almdori,G, et al. Pilot phase IIA study for the evaluation of the efficacy of folic acid in the treatment of laryngeal leckoplakia. Cancer, July 15, 2006 (epub June 12, 2006).

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