title: Incidence of hepatitis in patients with evidence of past or current hepatitis B or C during chemotherapy for early breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Few data are available about the prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections in early breast cancer patients and its impact on systemic treatments. The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of positive serology for hepatitis B and C in women with early breast cancer and to assess the clinical course and its impact on liver function during adjuvant treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  we retrospectively reviewed hepatitis B and C serology [HBs antigen (HBsAg), HBc antibodies (HBcAb), HBs antibodies (HBsAb) and HC (HCV) antibodies] in 746 consecutive patients with early breast cancer treated at our Institution between 2009 and 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 375 evaluable patients, we identified 312 controls (83.2%) and 63 patients (16.8%) with positive serology (cases): 15 patients (4%) with HCV, 8 (2.1%) with resolved HBV without anti-HBs (HBsAg-negative, HBsAgAb-negative, HBcAgAb-positive), 36 (9.6%) with resolved HBV with anti-HBs (HBsAg-negative, HBsAgAb-positive, HBcAgAb-positive) and 4 (1%) with chronic HBV (HBsAg-positive, HBsAgAb-negative, HBcAgAb-positive). During systemic treatments, hepatitis (defined as at least a three-fold increase in serum alanine aminotransferase level) occurred in nine (20.4%) out of 44 evaluable cases and in 14 (5.9%) out of 234 evaluable controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Approximately 20% of patients with early breast cancer with positive serology for viral hepatitis may develop hepatitis during systemic treatment. Pre-treatment serum detection of viral hepatitis B and C antigens and antibodies may be useful in the adjuvant therapy decision-making process and for adequate monitoring of liver function during antineoplastic therapy.
authors: Innovative Therapies Development Unit - Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST National Institute for Cancer Research, Genoa, Italy alessia.levaggi@hsanmartino.it.
authors: Alessia
authors: A
authors: Levaggi
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST National Institute for Cancer Research, Genoa, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: De Maria
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST National Institute for Cancer Research, Genoa, Italy.
authors: Beatrice
authors: B
authors: Dozin
authors: Innovative Therapies Development Unit - Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST National Institute for Cancer Research, Genoa, Italy.
authors: Giuseppina
authors: G
authors: Iacono
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST National Institute for Cancer Research, Genoa, Italy.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Bighin
authors: Innovative Therapies Development Unit - Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST National Institute for Cancer Research, Genoa, Italy.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Giraudi
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST National Institute for Cancer Research, Genoa, Italy.
authors: Matteo
authors: M
authors: Lambertini
authors: Innovative Therapies Development Unit - Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST National Institute for Cancer Research, Genoa, Italy.
authors: Alessia
authors: A
authors: D'Alonzo
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST National Institute for Cancer Research, Genoa, Italy.
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Poggio
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST National Institute for Cancer Research, Genoa, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Pronzato
authors: Innovative Therapies Development Unit - Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST National Institute for Cancer Research, Genoa, Italy.
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Del Mastro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
keywords: Breast cancer; chemotherapy; hepatitis B virus; hepatitis C virus