Cellular immunity in breast cancer patients completing taxane treatment.
OBJECTIVE
A field study of postchemotherapy immune functioning relative to the use of taxanes is reported. Immune responses in breast cancer patients were analyzed as a function of whether patients received taxane as part of their adjuvant chemotherapy.


METHODS
Immune levels of 227 stage II/III breast cancer patients were measured immediately after surgery prior to chemotherapy and again 12 months later when all chemotherapies had been completed. T-cell blastogenesis and natural killer (NK) cell lysis levels of patients receiving taxanes (n = 55) were compared with levels of patients not receiving taxanes (n = 172).


RESULTS
Regression analyses were conducted. The administration of taxane as part of combination chemotherapy predicted increased T-cell blastogenesis and NK cell cytotoxicity after the conclusion of all chemotherapies. For the Taxane group, average phytohemagglutinin-induced blastogenesis was 37% higher and NK cell cytotoxicity was 39% higher than the values for the No-Taxane group.


CONCLUSIONS
Data from group comparisons with appropriate controls in a sizable clinical sample contravene traditional wisdom that taxanes suppress patients' immune cell functions. Problems in generalizing direct-contact laboratory models to the field of cancer treatment are highlighted.
Carson
William E
WE
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA. Carson-1@medctr.osu.edu
Shapiro
Charles L
CL
Crespin
Timothy R
TR
Thornton
Lisa M
LM
Andersen
Barbara L
BL
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D043823:Taxoids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D043823:Taxoids