Toxicity and quality of life of Korean breast cancer patients treated with docetaxel-containing chemotherapy without primary G-CSF prophylaxis.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity and quality of life (QoL) of breast cancer patients treated with a docetaxel-containing chemotherapeutic regimen and to compare adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (AC) for four cycles followed by docetaxel (D) for four cycles with docetaxel, adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide (TAC) for six cycles without primary granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) prophylaxis.


METHODS
Node-positive breast cancer patients who received surgery from three hospitals were included. Subjects received docetaxel-containing chemotherapy and completed a questionnaire on QoL (EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23) at each cycle. Toxicity was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria.


RESULTS
All 78 eligible subjects and 542 cycles were analyzed. The incidence of dose reduction and grade 3 edema was higher in the AC-D group. The incidence of febrile neutropenia was significantly increased in the TAC group (63.4 %) compared to the AC-D group (29.7 %). Grade 3 or 4 anemia was higher in the TAC group, and grade 3 or 4 arthralgia was higher in the AC-D group. There were no significant differences in severe nausea and vomiting, fatigue, neuropathy, and peripheral edema. Baseline quality of life showed no difference between the two groups. The global health status decreased during chemotherapy and recovered to baseline level 3 months after chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the incidence of febrile neutropenia was high without primary G-CSF prophylaxis and was more severe in the TAC group, QoL revealed comparable results in both regimens; therefore, it could be one of the considerations in the choice of treatment strategy.
Department of Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, 657 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea, lhthof@hanmail.net.
Jihyoun
J
Lee
Min Hye
MH
Ahn
Yun Hee
YH
Jang
Eun Ju
EJ
Lee
Ji Hye
JH
Park
Jungho
J
Rho
Zisun
Z
Kim
Hyuk Mun
HM
Kim
Sun Wook
SW
Han
Cheolwan
C
Lim
Min Hyuk
MH
Lee
Sung Yong
SY
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044466:Asian People; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D011788:Quality of Life; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D043823:Taxoids; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide