Analysis of the risk factors for myelosuppression after chemoradiotherapy involving 5-fluorouracil and platinum for patients with esophageal cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

Myelosuppression is a serious adverse effect of chemotherapy, but its risk factors remain largely unknown. The present study retrospectively evaluated clinical data obtained before therapy to clarify the risk factors for myelosuppression after chemoradiotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODOLOGY:

One-hundred-and-eight patients who received 5-fluorouracil combined with platinum and 60Gy radiation for esophageal cancer were analyzed. The endpoint of this survey was the occurrence of grade 3 or higher myelosuppression (neutropenia, anemia or thrombocytopenia). Risk factors significantly related to myelosuppression were extracted using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS:

Grade 3 or higher neutropenia, anemia or thrombocytopenia occurred in 32.4%, 13.0% and 10.2% of the patients, respectively. According to the multivariate analysis, the risk factors included hoarseness, platelet count and the type of platinum for neutropenia; performance status and hemoglobin for anemia; and performance status, platelet count and serum creatinine concentration for thrombocytopenia (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

It was found that performance status, bone marrow function and hoarseness are the most important factors for chemoradiotherapy-induced myelosuppression in esophageal cancer. The prediction of myelosuppression is expected to be useful for the determination of the appropriate therapeutic approach for each patient by a physician.

• Authors: Mari Kogo, Manami Watahiki, Tomiko Sunaga, Kazuhiro Kaneko, Keiichiro Yoneyama, Michio Imawari, Yuji Kiuchi
• Journal: Hepato-gastroenterology (Hepatogastroenterology) 2011 May-Jun Vol. 58 Issue 107-108 Pg. 802-8 ISSN: 0172-6390 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 21830394 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Platinum
• Fluorouracil

Topics

• Aged
• Anemia (etiology)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Bone Marrow (drug effects, radiation effects)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Esophageal Neoplasms (therapy)
• Female
• Fluorouracil (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neutropenia (etiology)
• Platinum (adverse effects)
• Risk Factors
• Thrombocytopenia (etiology)