Skin toxicity as a risk factor for major infections in breast cancer patients treated with docetaxel

Authors

  • Paula Poikonen From the Departments of Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland (P. Poikonen, J. Sjo ̈stro ̈m, H. Joensuu), Karolinska Hospital and Institute, Sweden (S. Klaar), Malmo ̈General Hospital, Sweden (L.T. Nittby), Landspitalinn, Reykjavik, Iceland (H. Sigurdsson), So ̈nderborg Sygehus, Denmark (E.L. Madsen) and the University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden (C. Blomqvist)
  • Johanna Sjo ̈stro ̈m From the Departments of Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland (P. Poikonen, J. Sjo ̈stro ̈m, H. Joensuu), Karolinska Hospital and Institute, Sweden (S. Klaar), Malmo ̈General Hospital, Sweden (L.T. Nittby), Landspitalinn, Reykjavik, Iceland (H. Sigurdsson), So ̈nderborg Sygehus, Denmark (E.L. Madsen) and the University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden (C. Blomqvist)
  • Sigrid Klaa From the Departments of Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland (P. Poikonen, J. Sjo ̈stro ̈m, H. Joensuu), Karolinska Hospital and Institute, Sweden (S. Klaar), Malmo ̈General Hospital, Sweden (L.T. Nittby), Landspitalinn, Reykjavik, Iceland (H. Sigurdsson), So ̈nderborg Sygehus, Denmark (E.L. Madsen) and the University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden (C. Blomqvist)
  • Lena Tennvall Nittby From the Departments of Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland (P. Poikonen, J. Sjo ̈stro ̈m, H. Joensuu), Karolinska Hospital and Institute, Sweden (S. Klaar), Malmo ̈General Hospital, Sweden (L.T. Nittby), Landspitalinn, Reykjavik, Iceland (H. Sigurdsson), So ̈nderborg Sygehus, Denmark (E.L. Madsen) and the University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden (C. Blomqvist)
  • Helgi Sigurdsson From the Departments of Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland (P. Poikonen, J. Sjo ̈stro ̈m, H. Joensuu), Karolinska Hospital and Institute, Sweden (S. Klaar), Malmo ̈General Hospital, Sweden (L.T. Nittby), Landspitalinn, Reykjavik, Iceland (H. Sigurdsson), So ̈nderborg Sygehus, Denmark (E.L. Madsen) and the University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden (C. Blomqvist)
  • Ebbe Lindegaard Madsen From the Departments of Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland (P. Poikonen, J. Sjo ̈stro ̈m, H. Joensuu), Karolinska Hospital and Institute, Sweden (S. Klaar), Malmo ̈General Hospital, Sweden (L.T. Nittby), Landspitalinn, Reykjavik, Iceland (H. Sigurdsson), So ̈nderborg Sygehus, Denmark (E.L. Madsen) and the University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden (C. Blomqvist)
  • Heikki Joensuu From the Departments of Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland (P. Poikonen, J. Sjo ̈stro ̈m, H. Joensuu), Karolinska Hospital and Institute, Sweden (S. Klaar), Malmo ̈General Hospital, Sweden (L.T. Nittby), Landspitalinn, Reykjavik, Iceland (H. Sigurdsson), So ̈nderborg Sygehus, Denmark (E.L. Madsen) and the University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden (C. Blomqvist)
  • Carl Blomqvist From the Departments of Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland (P. Poikonen, J. Sjo ̈stro ̈m, H. Joensuu), Karolinska Hospital and Institute, Sweden (S. Klaar), Malmo ̈General Hospital, Sweden (L.T. Nittby), Landspitalinn, Reykjavik, Iceland (H. Sigurdsson), So ̈nderborg Sygehus, Denmark (E.L. Madsen) and the University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden (C. Blomqvist)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1080/02841860310022977

Abstract

Docetaxel-related skin toxicity, oral and gastrointestinal mucosal toxicity, and changes in blood cell counts were investigated as predictive factors for major infections in 143 women treated with 3-weekly docetaxel (100 mg/m2) as second-line therapy for metastatic breast cancer in a randomized trial. Each patient with a major infection (n=37) was compared with two controls. Skin toxicity (odds ratio 2.97, 95% CI 1.37–6.47), oral mucositis (1.98, CI 1.30–3.04), and the leukocyte nadir (0.12, CI 0.02–0.51) were significantly associated with a major infection in a univariate logistic regression analysis. In a multivariate analysis, skin toxicity was the only independent factor predictive for grade 3 to 4 infection (2.75, CI 1.00–7.58). A major infection was diagnosed in 62% (8 out of 13) of the docetaxel cycles in severely (grade 4) leukopenic patients who had grade 2 to 4 skin toxicity. Major infections are common in leukopenic patients who develop docetaxel-associated skin toxicity, and leukopenic patients presenting with docetaxel-induced skin toxicity may be candidates for prophylactic anti-infection measures such as prophylactic therapy with hematopoietic growth factors.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2004-03-01

How to Cite

Poikonen, P., Sjo ̈stro ̈m J., Klaa, S., Tennvall Nittby, L., Sigurdsson, H., Lindegaard Madsen, E., … Blomqvist, C. (2004). Skin toxicity as a risk factor for major infections in breast cancer patients treated with docetaxel. Acta Oncologica, 43(2), 190–195. https://doi.org/10.1080/02841860310022977

Issue

Vol. 43 No. 2 (2004): Acta Oncologica,

Section

Articles