Prognostic significance of neutropenia on day one of anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in operable breast cancer

Oncology. 2010;78(3-4):213-9. doi: 10.1159/000313702. Epub 2010 Apr 26.

Abstract

Objectives: It is currently unknown whether neutropenia during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer is associated with prognosis.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 103 breast cancer patients who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy including epirubicin-based chemotherapy followed by docetaxel. The association between neutropenia due to epirubicin-based chemotherapy and distant disease-free survival (DDFS) was assessed.

Results: Thirty-one patients (30%) demonstrated neutropenia during the epirubicin-based regimen. Patients without neutropenia showed a significantly (p = 0.004) lower 5-year DDFS rate (64%) than those with neutropenia (97%). In addition, multivariate analysis showed that neutropenia is an independent prognostic factor for DDFS (p = 0.02).

Conclusion: Neutropenia occurring in early breast cancer patients during the initial neoadjuvant treatment is strongly associated with a better prognosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anthracyclines / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / methods
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Docetaxel
  • Epirubicin / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutropenia
  • Prognosis
  • Taxoids / administration & dosage
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anthracyclines
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Taxoids
  • Docetaxel
  • Epirubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide