Systemic Immune Activation, Anemia and Thrombocytosis in Breast Cancer Patients Treated by Doxorubicin and Paclitaxel

Abstract

Increased urinary concentrations of neopterin, an indicator of systemic immune activation, have been reported only in a minority of patients with breast cancer. We determined urinary neopterin by high-performance liquid chromatography in 78 patients with breast carcinoma, including 51 patients treated by systemic administration of doxorubicin and paclitaxel. Urinary neopterin before the therapy was not statistically different in patients compared to controls. Increased neopterin concentrations were more frequent in patients with advanced disease. A statistically significant increase in urinary neopterin, gradual decrease in hemoglobin and an increase in platelet counts were observed during doxorubicin/paclitaxel chemotherapy. The concentration of urinary neopterin before the second cycle of chemotherapy has shown significant negative correlation with the concentrations of hemoglobin later in the course of chemotherapy and a positive correlation with platelet counts. In conclusion, urinary neopterin is normal in most patients with breast cancer. Increased urinary neopterin concentrations during doxorubicin/ paclitaxel chemotherapy indicate the presence of systemic immune activation that seems to be associated with chemotherapy-induced anemia and thrombocytosis.

Keywords

• anemia
• breast cancer
• neopterin
• paclitaxel
• thrombocytosis