Abstract
Background: Preparations containing dehydrated ethanol as an additive, due to its water-insoluble properties, have been frequently used for chemotherapeutic agents, such as paclitaxel (PTX), docetaxel (DOC) and eribulin. When selecting these drugs, the influence of alcohol on the central nervous system (CNS) must be considered. In this study, we measured the breath alcohol concentration (BAC) in Japanese breast cancer patients treated with these agents. Method: Japanese patients with breast cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy with alcohol-containing agents were registered. The BAC was measured immediately after drip infusion and 30 and 60 minutes later. Result: Thirty-one female patients were enrolled in this study. Breath alcohol was detected in 18 patients (58%) immediately after administration: 6 patients (75%) with PTX, 10 (50%) with DOC and 2 (67%) with eribulin. After 30 minutes, no patient had BAC over 0.15 mg/L, but breath alcohol under 0.1 mg/L was detected in 1 patient with PTX and 1 with DOC after 60 minutes. Conclusion: The influence of alcohol may disappear 60 minutes or more after administration, making it possible to travel home safely at this time.
Highlights
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women
Breast cancer has been treated with endocrine therapeutic drugs including tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors, or chemotherapeutic agents including anthracyclines, antimetabolites, taxanes and eribulin [2,3,4,5]
Anthracyclines and taxanes (paclitaxel (PTX) and docetaxel (DOC)) are commonly used for the first-line treatment of breast cancer, while eribulin is used for second- or third-line treatment
Summary
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. The incidence of death due to breast cancer has declined in the USA and Europe, mostly owing to improved detection and treatment [1]. Preparations containing dehydrated ethanol as an additive, due to its water-insoluble properties, have been frequently used for chemotherapeutic agents such as PTX, DOC and eribulin When selecting these drugs, the influence of alcohol on the central nervous system (CNS) must be considered. Preparations containing dehydrated ethanol as an additive, due to its water-insoluble properties, have been frequently used for chemotherapeutic agents, such as paclitaxel (PTX), docetaxel (DOC) and eribulin. We measured the breath alcohol concentration (BAC) in Japanese breast cancer patients treated with these agents
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
