Feasibility and toxicity of dose-dense adjuvant chemotherapy in older women with breast cancer Journal Article


Authors: Zauderer, M.; Patil, S.; Hurria, A.
Article Title: Feasibility and toxicity of dose-dense adjuvant chemotherapy in older women with breast cancer
Abstract: Introduction: The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility and toxicity of adjuvant dose-dense chemotherapy in older women with breast cancer. Methods: A search of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) breast cancer database was performed to identify all patients age 60 and older who underwent an initial consultation with a breast medical oncologist between October 1, 2002 and June 28, 2005. Inclusion criteria were: (1) age ≥ 60, (2) follow-up care obtained at MSKCC, (3) intent to treat with adjuvant dose-dense AC-T (doxorubicin 60 mg/m<sup>2</sup> and cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m<sup>2</sup> every 2 weeks for 4 cycles followed by paclitaxel 175 mg/m<sup>2</sup> every 2 weeks for 4 cycles, with white blood cell growth factor support). Results: One hundred sixty-two patients (mean age 66, range 60-76) with breast cancer, stages I (n = 5), II (n = 111), and III (n = 46) according to the sixth edition of the AJCC staging system, were included in this analysis. Forty-one percent (n = 67) experienced a grade 3 or 4 toxicity, 9% a grade 3 infection (n = 14), 6% grade 3 fatigue (n = 9), 5% neutropenic fever (n = 8), and 4% thromboembolic events (n = 7). Twenty-two percent (n = 36) did not complete the planned 8 cycles of treatment. There was no statistically significant association between age and either toxicity or treatment discontinuation. In multivariate analysis including age, pretreatment hemoglobin, and comorbidity, the presence of comorbidity (Charlson score ≥ 1) and a lower baseline hemoglobin score were associated with an increased risk of any grade 3 or 4 toxicity. Conclusions: We found that the risk of toxicity depended more on comorbid medical conditions and baseline hemoglobin value than age in this cohort of older adults receiving dose-dense adjuvant chemotherapy. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
Keywords: controlled study; treatment outcome; leukemia; fracture; retrospective studies; major clinical study; fatigue; neutropenia; doxorubicin; cancer combination chemotherapy; diarrhea; drug dose reduction; drug withdrawal; hypertension; side effect; paclitaxel; adjuvant therapy; cancer adjuvant therapy; chemotherapy, adjuvant; cancer staging; follow up; neoplasm staging; drug eruption; infection; multiple cycle treatment; pain; sensory neuropathy; breast cancer; erythropoietin; anemia; leukopenia; mucosa inflammation; nausea; thrombocytopenia; antineoplastic combined chemotherapy protocols; cyclophosphamide; hemoglobin; age factors; breast neoplasms; docetaxel; dizziness; drug hypersensitivity; dyspnea; febrile neutropenia; hyperglycemia; pneumonia; syncope; lung embolism; confusion; dysphagia; hypokalemia; hyponatremia; depression; thorax pain; cerebrovascular disease; heart infarction; peripheral vascular disease; thrombosis; diabetes mellitus; lymphoma; dementia; comorbidity; consultation; liver disease; age distribution; embolism; connective tissue disease; drug substitution; brain ischemia; congestive heart failure; chronic kidney failure; ulcer; heart muscle ischemia; sinus tachycardia; dose-dense chemotherapy; older patient; hemiplegia; myopathy
Journal Title: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Volume: 117
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0167-6806
Publisher: Springer  
Date Published: 2009-09-01
Start Page: 205
End Page: 210
Language: English
DOI: 10.1007/s10549-008-0116-0
PUBMED: 18622739
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC3811071
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 2" - "Export Date: 30 November 2010" - "CODEN: BCTRD" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. Sujata Patil
    511 Patil