Neutrophil count is not associated with infection episodes in breast cancer patients treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

The aim was to evaluate the impact of anthracycline-based chemotherapy on neutrophil count and infections in breast cancer women. The medical records of patients were retrospectively and prospectively reviewed (8-year period). Patients were grouped according to anthracyclines at different doses: (1) Scheme 1 (n = 56, 224 courses): 50-60 mg/m(2); and (2) Scheme 2 (n = 25, 100 courses): 65-75 mg/m(2), associated to cyclophosphamide and 5-fluorouracil, at 21-day intervals between courses. Neutrophil count was performed on diagnosis and 48-72 h before each chemotherapy course. Patients were followed up for neutrophil count and infection episodes for three consecutive courses. Multivariate analysis was used to determine independent factors for infection. After the first course, neutrophil count was reduced than baseline (P < 0.001) and maintained during the subsequent courses, without differences between courses or groups. There were 49 infection episodes (63.2% urinary, 18.4% neutropenic fever and 18.4% diverses), mainly between course 1-2 (39%) and course 3-4 (38%) of chemotherapy. Patients evaluated as presenting or not with infection episodes did not differ in neutrophil count. The number of chemotherapy courses (P < 0.05), but not age, neutrophil count or chemotherapy regimen, was associated with infection. We concluded that progressive chemotherapy, but not neutrophil count, was an independent factor for infection.

Relationship between risk factors and tumor stage in breast cancer patients in a university hospital--Brazil.

PURPOSE: To verify the relationship between clinical variables and tumor stage in breast cancer. METHODS: This retrospective study (1998 to 2001) analyzed data of 176 women with breast cancer attending a university hospital. Patients were divided into groups according to the clinicopathological variables studied. RESULTS: The disease had a similar frequency at age under 50 years (44.3%) or above (55.7%) 50 years. Stage II was more frequent. Most patients were white (69.9%), non-smokers (69.3%) and were not using oral contraceptives (71%). Stages 0-II were mainly detected in the white (74.8%) vs non-white (60.4%) group. Monthly breast self-exams were performed by 62.5% of women, in which earlier stages (0, I) were more frequently detected than in those who did not perform self-exams (27.3% vs 12.1%, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Breast cancer occurred mainly in white women in Stage II, and with similar frequency at age under or over 50 years. Breast self-exam was associated with early detection of the disease.