Incidence and outcome of anemia during adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy (CHT) in early breast cancer (BC) patients (pts): A single-institution pilot survey

Abstract

20714 Background: Various CHT regimens, particularly platinum-based ones, are able to induce anemia. However, the incidence and outcome of anemia induced by non-platinum based therapies have not been extensively investigated. In particular, few data are available regarding the anemia related to anthracycline-based regimens, even if early BC pts treated with such treatments often report fatigue. We conducted a retrospective pilot survey to investigate the incidence and outcome of anemia among BC pts treated with anthracyclines as adjuvant therapy. Methods: Using our chemotherapy archive, we identified 100 consecutive early BC pts treated with different anthracycline-based adjuvant CHT, for whom baseline Hb levels were available. We subsequently collected Hb values after each cycle of CHT and at the end of the treatment. Seventeen pts were subsequently excluded from this analysis due to the lack of end-of-treatment (EOT) Hb values. Most of the pts (72%) received a combination of adryamicin + cyclophosphamide (AC) for 4 cycles. Median age was 54 years (29- 79). Results: Median baseline Hb level was 12.7 mg/dL (9.2 - 15.2), whereas median EOT level was 12.2 mg/dL. No significant decrease of Hb levels has been observed throughout the planned CHT. Results are reported in Table 1. We subsequently analyzed the incidence of anemia in 2 subgroups of pts, identified according to baseline Hb levels (<12 mg/dL vs ≥ 12 mg/dL), finding similar results. Conclusion: Our preliminary results indicate that anthracycline-based CHT does not induce anemia in this group of pts. Further analyses could clarify if the incidence of anemia can raise during more complex treatments. Median (range) Hb Levels During Adjuvant CHT Baseline After 1st cycle After 2nd cycle After 3rd cycle EOT Median Hb (mg/dL) 12.7 12.6 12.2 12.2 11.8 Range (9.2-15.2) (8.1-14.7) (8.8-14.6) (9.2-14.1) (9.6-13.1) No significant financial relationships to disclose.