Hematologic safety of breast cancer chemotherapies in patients with hepatitis B or C virus infection

Abstract

Background: Information regarding hematological toxicities in breast cancer chemotherapy patients with hepatitis B (HBV) or C virus (HCV) infection is limited.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the presence of hepatotoxicities (i.e. aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin elevation) and hematotoxicities (i.e. leukopenia and thrombocytopenia) among breast cancer patients with HBV or HCV infection who received chemotherapy from 1999 to 2010. All of the patients included in this analysis were classified as Child-Pugh A.

Results: Among 32 patients with HBV infection who underwent chemotherapy (total cycles, 378), 3 experienced grade 3/4 hepatotoxicities, requiring 2 treatment delays and 1 treatment revision. Further, 9 patients experienced grade 3/4 hematotoxicities; of these, 2 required treatment delays and 3 required treatment revisions. Fifty-two HCV patients underwent a total of 570 cycles of chemotherapy. Five patients experienced grade 3/4 hepatotoxicities and required treatment delays, whereas 10 patients experienced grade 3 hematotoxicities; 3 of these patients required treatment delays.

Conclusion: Hematotoxicities requiring chemotherapy dose or treatment revision were not highly prevalent among breast cancer chemotherapy patients with HBV or HCV infection and a normal range of liver function. Under careful monitoring, chemotherapy dosage or schedule adjustments may not be necessary in similar patients positive for HBV or HCV.