Doxycycline for the treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema Journal Article
| Authors: | Brown, S.; Dayan, J. H.; Coriddi, M.; McGrath, L.; Kataru, R. P.; Mehrara, B. J. |
| Article Title: | Doxycycline for the treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema |
| Abstract: | Purpose: Secondary lymphedema is a common complication of cancer treatment for which no effective drug treatments yet exist. Level I clinical data suggests that doxycycline is effective for treating filariasis-induced lymphedema, in which it decreases tissue edema and skin abnormalities; however, this treatment has not been tested for cancer-related lymphedema. Over the past year, we used doxycycline in an off-label manner in patients with breast cancer-related secondary lymphedema. The purpose of this report was to retrospectively analyze the efficacy of this treatment. Methods: Patients who presented to our lymphedema clinic between January 2021 and January 2022 were evaluated, and barring allergies or contraindications to doxycycline treatment, were counseled on the off-label use of this treatment. Patients who wished to proceed were treated with doxycycline (200 mg given orally once daily) for 6 weeks. After IRB approval of this study, lymphedema outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Seventeen patients with a mean follow-up of 17.0 ± 13.2 weeks were identified in our retrospective review. Although doxycycline treatment had no significant effect on relative limb volume change or L-Dex scores, we found a significant improvement in patient-reported quality of life. Analysis of patient responses to the Lymphedema Life Impact Scale showed a significant improvement in the total impairment score due to improvements in the physical and psychological well-being subscales (p = 0.03, p = 0.03, p = 0.04, respectively). Conclusion: This small, retrospective study did not show significant improvements in limb volume or L-Dex scores in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema treated with doxycycline. However, our patients reported improvements in quality-of-life measures using a validated lymphedema patient-reported outcome instrument. Our results suggest that doxycycline may be of use in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema; however, larger and more rigorous studies are needed. Copyright © 2022 Brown, Dayan, Coriddi, McGrath, Kataru and Mehrara. |
| Keywords: | inflammation; lymphedema; doxycycline; th2; tetracyclines; cd4+ |
| Journal Title: | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| Volume: | 13 |
| ISSN: | 1663-9812 |
| Publisher: | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| Date Published: | 2022-10-20 |
| Start Page: | 1028926 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.3389/fphar.2022.1028926 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PMCID: | PMC9630642 |
| PUBMED: | 36339530 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Article -- Export Date: 1 December 2022 -- Source: Scopus |
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