Anticancer therapy in patients with porphyrias: evidence today.
BACKGROUND
Porphyrias are rare diseases, and for these patients every administration of drugs may induce an acute attack of porphyria. The list of safe compounds allowed in these patients is available for clinicians from specific websites cited in the text.


OBJECTIVE
However, data concerning anticancer therapy in patients with such diseases remain poor. Therefore any publications can help clinicians to deal with this very specific group of patients.


METHODS
In our institution, three patients received docetaxel and hematologic growth factors (erythropoietin and GCSF) without unexpected toxicities. Aromatase inhibitors (anstrozole and letrozole) were also given in one patient without any related problem.


CONCLUSIONS
The present observation adds some useful data for the possible treatment of cancer in patients with porphyria.
Thiery-Vuillemin
Antoine
A
Medical Oncology Unit, CHU Minjoz, Bvd Fleming, 25000 Besancon, France. a.thieryvuillemin@mac.com
Chaigneau
Loic
L
Meaux-Ruault
Nadine
N
Villanueva
Cristian
C
N'guyen
Thierry
T
Maurina
Tristan
T
Stein
Ulrich
U
Lorgis
Véronique
V
Demarchi
Martin
M
Pivot
Xavier
X
D000077384:Anastrozole; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006397:Hematinics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000077289:Letrozole; D008875:Middle Aged; D009570:Nitriles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017118:Porphyria, Acute Intermittent / Q000150:complications*; D046350:Porphyria, Variegate / Q000150:complications*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018570:Risk Assessment; D043823:Taxoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014230:Triazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D006397:Hematinics; D009570:Nitriles; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D043823:Taxoids; D014230:Triazoles; D004921:Erythropoietin; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000077384:Anastrozole; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D000077289:Letrozole