“Moderate” adjuvant chemotherapy-induced leukopenia is beneficial for survival of patients with early breast cancer: a retrospective study
Li Wang,
Chang Jiang,
Na Wang,
Yan-Ling Wen,
Si-Fen Wang,
Cong Xue,
Xi-Wen Bi,
Zhong-Yu Yuan
Affiliations
Li Wang
Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
Chang Jiang
Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
Na Wang
Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
Yan-Ling Wen
Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
Si-Fen Wang
Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
Cong Xue
Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
Xi-Wen Bi
Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
Zhong-Yu Yuan
Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
Abstract Background The association between chemotherapy-induced leukopenia (CIL) and survival for patients with early breast cancer (EBC) is not known. We investigated the relationship between different grades of CIL and survival in patients with EBC receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods A total of 442 patients with EBC receiving a regimen containing an anthracycline (A) and taxane (T) were included into our analysis. Survival analyses were undertaken using Kaplan–Meier curves. The P-value was calculated using the log rank test. Subgroup analysis was conducted to investigate the correlation of CIL grade and survival based on the clinicopathological characteristics of patients. Afterwards, univariate and multivariate analyses screened out independent prognostic factors to construct a prognostic model, the robustness of which was verified. Results Patients with EBC who experienced grade 2–4 (“moderate” and “severe”) CIL were associated with longer overall survival (OS) than those with grade 0–1 (mild) CIL (P = 0.021). Compared with patients with mild CIL, OS was longer in patients with severe CIL (P = 0.029). Patients who suffered from moderate CIL tended to have longer OS than those with mild CIL (P = 0.082). Nevertheless, there was no distinguishable difference in OS between moderate- or severe-CIL groups. Subgroup analysis revealed that patients with moderate CIL had longer OS than those with mild CIL among patients who were premenstrual, or with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+), > 3 lymph nodes with metastases, a tumor diameter > 5 cm. A prognostic model based on menstrual status, N stage, and CIL grade showed satisfactory robustness. Conclusion The grade of CIL was strongly associated with the prognosis among patients with EBC who received a regimen containing both anthracyclines and taxanes. Patients with a “moderate” CIL grade tended to have better survival outcomes.
