Chemotherapy and Dyslipidemia (Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide Regimen versus Taxane) in Iraqi Women with Breast Cancer: A Compara-tive Study

Abstract

Lipids are a major component of the cell membrane, essential for the growth and division of both the normal and malignant cell. This study aimed to study the effect of different chemotherapy regimens in the induction of dyslipidemia in Iraqi women with breast cancer. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Biochemistry, Medical College, University of Baghdad and at the Oncology Hospital, Medical City Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, during the period from May 2018 to October 2018. It involved 56 regularly menstruated women (25-45 years) categorized into: group 1 [G1] included 29 women with primary breast carcinoma, group 2 [G2] consisted of the same 29 women of G1 but after finishing the first course of treatment [4 cycles of anthracycline chemotherapy], and group 3 [G3] which involved 27 women who completed full regimen of chemotherapy treatment [course 1 and 4 cycles of taxanes; the course 2]. Serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and TG were measured using colorimetric methods. The mean (± SEM) of serum cholesterol was significantly increased in G1 (p< 0.05) and G2 (p<0.01) compared to G3. Also, the mean values of serum LDL-C were significantly elevated in G2 than G1 and G3 (p<0.05). Serum TG level showed no significant differences among the three groups. While that of serum HDL-C levels was significantly decreased in G3 compared to G1 (p<0.05), this study showed that breast cancer chemotherapy-associated dyslipidemia is transient, and anthracycline course has a significant effect than Taxane one.