Annals of Oncology Advance Access published online on October 29, 2009
Annals of Oncology, doi:10.1093/annonc/mdp458
Effects of chronic hepatitis C infection on the treatment of breast cancer patients
1 Department of Breast Medical Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
2 Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
3 Department of Tumor Registry, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
4 Department of Statistics, Texas A & M University, College Station
5 Department of General Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
* Correspondence to: Dr P. K. H. Morrow, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Box 1354, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Tel: +1-713-792-2817; Fax: +1-713-794-4385; E-mail: pmorrow{at}mdanderson.org
Background: Although hepatitis C (HCV) is the most common blood-borne infection in the United States, little information exists about treatment of breast cancer in the setting of chronic HCV.
Patients and methods: The databases of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) Tumor Registry, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, and Department of Laboratory Medicine were cross-referenced for patients with breast cancer, who were also identified as having HCV. Eligible patients had a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer, breast cancer treatment at MDACC, and a diagnosis of HCV.
Results: During chemotherapy, 25% of patients experienced elevations in aminotransferases and 44% of patients required dose reductions/delays in chemotherapy. More than 60% of the patients who received chemotherapy demonstrated a grade 2 or greater complication. However, 92% of patients were able to complete the number of cycles specified in the initial chemotherapy plan.
Conclusions: As the majority of these breast cancer patients completed the initial chemotherapy plan, this study indicates that breast cancer patients with HCV can be treated with cytotoxic therapy. Comparison with historical controls showed similar rates of hepatic toxicity in the presence (or absence) of HCV, indicating that incidence of transaminitis may not be significantly affected by HCV.
breast cancer, chemotherapy, hepatitis C
Received for publication August 7, 2009. Accepted for publication August 11, 2009.