title: Surgical resection deteriorates gemcitabine-induced leukopenia in pancreatic cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gemcitabine hydrochloride (GEM) is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents for pancreatic cancer; however, factors affecting GEM-induced leukopenia have not been clarified yet. In the present study, we analyzed the relationship between patients backgrounds and GEM-induced leukopenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight patients with pancreatic cancer were analyzed for correlation between the dose of GEM and the blood leukocyte number. Moreover, we compared leukopenia in resected and non-resected patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of grade 3 or 4 leukopenia was 25% in the non-resected patients, whereas equivalent leukopenia was observed in 57% of the resected patients ( P = 0.048 by the chi(2) test). The relative decrease in blood leukocytes induced by GEM administration was more severe in resected patients (41.3 +/- 9.9%), as compared to non-resected patients (52.6 +/- 16.0%; P = 0.023 by t-test).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, we found that the administration of GEM to patients after surgical resection caused more severe leukopenia, as compared to findings in non-resected patients. These data suggested that more frequent monitoring of the leukocyte count and prolonged intervals between GEM administrations are necessary for resected patients with pancreatic cancer.Gemcitabine hydrochloride (GEM) is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents for pancreatic cancer; however, factors affecting GEM-induced leukopenia have not been clarified yet. In the present study, we analyzed the relationship between patients' backgrounds and GEM-induced leukopenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Kyoto University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onoue
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Terada
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Ryuichiro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Ken-Ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inui
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine