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.

中文翻译：

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碱化疗法对晚期胰腺癌化疗结果的影响：一项回顾性病例对照研究

背景/目的：中和与癌细胞的进展和耐药性相关的酸性肿瘤微环境，可能是癌症进展形式的新治疗选择。我们进行了一项病例对照研究，以研究碱化疗法（包括补充口服碳酸氢钠的碱性饮食）对转移性或复发性胰腺癌患者的影响（研究注册号：UMIN000036126）。患者和方法：对碱化组（Karasuma Wada Clinic；碱化治疗加化疗）中的 36 名患者与对照组（京都大学医院；仅化疗）中的 89 名患者进行回顾性比较。结果：碱化组的中位总生存期（OS）显着长于对照组（15.4 vs. 10. 8个月; p<0.005）。在碱化组中，碱化治疗后平均尿液 pH 值显着升高 [6.38±0.85（前）vs. 6.80±0.71（后）；p<0.05]。此外，碱化组尿液pH值升高（pH>7.0或ΔpH>1.0）患者的中位OS显着长于对照组。结论：碱化治疗可增强晚期胰腺癌患者化疗的疗效。