Capecitabine-induced hypertriglyceridemia: a report of two cases.
BACKGROUND
Capecitabine is a tumor-activated oral fluoropyrimidine with established antitumor activity in breast and colorectal cancer. Hypertriglyceridemia associated with this drug has rarely been reported in the literature.


METHODS
This is a report of two patients who developed capecitabine-induced severe hypertriglyceridemia, together with an increase in total cholesterol levels. The first patient developed hyperlipidemia during long-term capecitabine treatment in combination with trastuzumab for metastatic breast carcinoma (triglycerides: from 219 mgldl to 1409 mg/dl, 543% increase; cholesterol: from 239 mg/dl to 363 mg/dl, 52% increase). The second patient developed abnormalities in the lipid profile after the second cycle of chemotherapy with capecitabine and oxaliplatin for metastatic colorectal cancer (triglycerides: from 101 mg/dl to 1510 mg/dl, 1395% increase; cholesterol: from 203 mg/dl to 310 mgldl, 52% increase). An analysis of the possible underlying pathogeneic mechanisms is provided.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians should be aware of the possibility of dyslipidemia, particularly hypertriglyceridemia, following treatment with capecitabine.
Koutras
Angelos K
AK
Divisions of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece.
Habeos
Ioannis G
IG
Vagenakis
Apostolos G
AG
Kalofonos
Haralabos P
HP
D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D000069287:Capecitabine; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil