Prognostic impact of haemoglobin levels in breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Many patients with solid tumours suffer from anaemia, as a consequence of the disease itself or its treatment. Anaemia affects the quality of life and can have a negative impact on overall survival. The aim of the current study was to analyse the impact of haemoglobin levels on the prognosis of patients with primary breast cancer.


METHODS
Retrospective data from 249 women treated for operable breast tumours were included in our study. Haemoglobin (Hb) levels independently of anticancer therapy were compared for the prognostic influence on disease-free and overall survival.


RESULTS
A significant correlation between higher minimum Hb level during chemotherapy and the disease-free and overall survival was found. Pre-treatment haemoglobin levels had no prognostic influence on the disease-free and overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
The present data showed that anaemia during adjuvant chemotherapy to be a negative prognostic indicator for survival of patients with breast cancer.
Boehm
Daniel Ulrich
DU
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Johannes-Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55101 Mainz, Germany. dboehm@unimainz.de
Lebrecht
Antje
A
Schmidt
Marcus
M
Siggelkow
Wulf
W
Lindner
Christine
C
Litz
Antonia
A
Ulbrich
Eva
E
Koelbl
Heinz
H
D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
D006454:Hemoglobins; D005047:Etoposide; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate