Critical evaluation of the usefulness of different reticulocyte parameters in monitoring the erythropoiesis reaction to cancer chemotherapy.
Eighteen patients with various solid tumors were treated with combination of vincristine and 30-50 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide. Prior therapy and in 1-3 day intervals these patients had determined in peripheral bloods: frequency of reticulocytes (%R), absolute reticulocyte count (ARC), corrected reticulocyte count (CRC), reticulocyte production index (RPI) and hematocrit (Ht). These studies have shown that the impairment of reticulocyte production is earlier diagnosed by RPI than ARC and CRC, and finally by %R. On the other hand, %R was the parameter which allowed for the earliest detection of the beginning of recovery post chemotherapy. It is concluded that the RPI is the parameter of choice for detecting the impairment of erythropoiesis during evaluation of new drugs and protocols of cancer chemotherapy.
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide