Ovarian Cancer in B6 Points of View

 Kyle J. Norton(Draft Article)

Ovarian cancer is defined as a condition of  abnormal ovarian cells growth of ovarian cells,  It is one of most common cancer in US, according to the statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society's publication, Cancer Facts & Figures 2010, an estimated 21,880 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 13,850 deaths.

Depending to the stage and grade of the cancer, chemotherapy such as cisplatin, carboplatin, paclitaxel, liposomal doxorubicin may be necessary to prevent the spread and recurrence of the cancer. Epidemiological studies focusing in vegetables and fruits in reduced risk and treatment of ovarian cancer have not been conclusive(a)(b)(c)(d), some vitamins have showed to inhibit the progression of cancer with little or no side effects.
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water soluble vitamin found abundantly in green peas, yams, broccoli, asparagus and turnip greens,Peanuts, sunflower seeds, cashews and hazelnuts, meat, fish etc., with functions of amino acid, carbohydrate  metabolism, brain health, and liver detoxification, etc.

Epidemiological studies, linking vitamin B6 in reduced risk of ovarian cancer have been inconsistent. 
The study of the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, indicated intake of one-carbon metabolism related nutrients, especially vitamin B(6) and methionine, may lower ovarian cancer risk (1). In 80,254 Nurses' Health Study participants, during 22 years of follow-up (1980-2002), researchers found little evidence to support dietary folate, methionine, and vitamin B(6) in related ovarian cancer risk(2), But
in the study to compare the effectiveness of acupuncture plus vitamin B6 PC6 points injection with acupuncture or vitamin B6 alone in controlling emesis of 142 patients, between March 1, 2006, and June 30, 2008 indicated that acupuncture plus vitamin B6 PC6 points injection with acupuncture relieved nausea and vomiting in patients with ovarian cancer, undergoing a highly emetogenic chemotherapy regimen(3). In a  total of 248 analyzable patients with Stages III-IV ovarian epithelial cancer (114 with and 134 without prior chemotherapy) conducted by the Albert Einstein Cancer Center, showed that although  administration of pyridoxine significantly reduced neurotoxicity, its adverse effect on response duration suggests that the agent should not be administered with  cisplatin (DDP) and hexamethylmelamine (HMM) regimens(4). In the assessed dietary intakes and factors associated with diet in women with family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer (FHBOC) study, suggest that women with FHBOC should be encouraged to meet dietary guidelines for cancer prevention, including intake of vitamin B6(5).

Taking altogether, vitamin B6 may be associated to reduced risk and treatment of ovarian cancer when it is used in conjunction with acupuncture, but further study with large sample and multi center studies are necessary to improve the validation. Over doses may induced the symptoms of difficulty coordinating movement, numbness, sensory changes, etc., please make sure you follow the guideline of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.

 
References
(a) Fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition by Schulz M¹, Lahmann PH, Boeing H, Hoffmann K, Allen N, Key TJ, Bingham S, Wirfält E, Berglund G, Lundin E, Hallmans G, Lukanova A, Martínez Garcia C, González CA, Tormo MJ, Quirós JR, Ardanaz E, Larrañaga N, Lund E, Gram IT, Skeie G, Peeters PH, van Gils CH, Bueno-de-Mesquita HB, Büchner FL, Pasanisi P, Galasso R, Palli D, Tumino R, Vineis P, Trichopoulou A, Kalapothaki V, Trichopoulos D, Chang-Claude J, Linseisen J, Boutron-Ruault MC, Touillaud M, Clavel-Chapelon F, Olsen A, Tjønneland A, Overvad K, Tetsche M, Jenab M, Norat T, Kaaks R, Riboli E.(PubMed)
(b) Fruits and vegetables and ovarian cancer risk in a pooled analysis of 12 cohort studies by Koushik A¹, Hunter DJ, Spiegelman D, Anderson KE, Arslan AA, Beeson WL, van den Brandt PA, Buring JE, Cerhan JR, Colditz GA, Fraser GE, Freudenheim JL, Genkinger JM, Goldbohm RA, Hankinson SE, Koenig KL, Larsson SC, Leitzmann M, McCullough ML, Miller AB, Patel A, Rohan TE, Schatzkin A, Smit E, Willett WC, Wolk A, Zhang SM, Smith-Warner SA(PubMed).
(c) Epidemiologic evidence of the protective effect of fruit and vegetables on cancer risk by Riboli E¹, Norat T.(PubMed)
(d) Risk of ovarian carcinoma and consumption of vitamins A, C, and E and specific carotenoids: a prospective analysis by Fairfield KM¹, Hankinson SE, Rosner BA, Hunter DJ, Colditz GA, Willett WC.(PubMed)
(1)Folate, vitamin B(6) , vitamin B(12) , methionine and alcohol intake in relation to ovarian cancer risk by Harris HR¹, Cramer DW, Vitonis AF, DePari M, Terry KL.(PubMed)
(2) Intake of folate and related nutrients in relation to risk of epithelial ovarian cancer by Tworoger SS¹, Hecht JL, Giovannucci E, Hankinson SE.(PubMed)

(3) Vitamin B6 points PC6 injection during acupuncture can relieve nausea and vomiting in patients with ovarian cancer by You Q¹, Yu H, Wu D, Zhang Y, Zheng J, Peng C.(PubMed)
(4) Hexamethylmelamine and low or moderate dose cisplatin with or without pyridoxine for treatment of advanced ovarian carcinoma: a study of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group by Wiernik PH¹, Yeap B, Vogl SE, Kaplan BH, Comis RL, Falkson G, Davis TE, Fazzini E, Cheuvart B, Horton J.(PubMed)
(5)
(6) Diet and predictors of dietary intakes in women with family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer by McEligot AJ¹, Mouttapa M, Ziogas A, Anton-Culver H.(PubMed)