title: Does dexamethasone leucocytosis facilitate full dosage adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer?
abstract: This is a retrospective analysis of breast cancer patients given adjuvant 'CMF' cytotoxic chemotherapy. It examines the impact on full blood counts of introducing dexamethasone as a prophylactic antiemetic the day before injections. Dexamethasone reduced leucopenia on injection due days. Twelve of 13 patients treated before the introduction of prophylactic dexamethasone, but only eight of 21 patients treated after, experience dose reduction or delay due to leucopenia (P < 0.01). Dexamethasone facilitated the administration of chemotherapy according to schedule.
authors.affiliation: Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011292:Premedication; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate