title: Effect of active hexose-correlated compound in women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: a retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anthracyclines and taxanes are often used as first-line chemotherapy treatments in patients with breast cancer. There are, however, significant toxicity and side effects associated with these therapies. Previous studies have demonstrated that active hexose-correlated compound (AHCC) reduces such side effects. The present study explored the beneficial effects of AHCC on adverse events in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one women who were treated with anthracyclines and taxanes at Nagumo Clinic in Tokyo from October 2004 to March 2011 were selected for this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the occurrence of adverse events in patients who received AHCC with those who did not receive AHCC. Using Fisher's exact tests, we also compared the worst-grade adverse events in each treatment cycle. Generalized estimating equations were employed to compare longitudinal changes, and the use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, in the two groups was analyzed using Student's t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that, compared to the control group, the AHCC group had significantly fewer neutrophil-related events (odds ratio, 0.30; p=0.016), significantly lower use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and a higher (although not significant) rate of adverse events associated with γ-glutamyl transpeptidase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AHCC has the potential to reduce the severity of neutropenia induced by breast cancer chemotherapy and the use of G-CSF during chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Hematology and Oncology, The University of Tokyo Hospital , Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan .
authors.forename: Sho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hangai
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwase
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kogure
authors.forename: Tempei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyaji
authors.forename: Tadaharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagumo
authors.forename: Takuhiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008875:Middle Aged; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D043823:Taxoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011134:Polysaccharides; D043823:Taxoids; C499366:Active Hexose Correlated Compound