Impact of concurrent radiotherapy on chemotherapy total dose and dose intensity in patients with early breast cancer

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: A retrospective analysis was conducted to evaluate the tolerability as well as the impact of concurrent adjuvant CMF chemotherapy and radiation therapy on total CMF dose and dose intensity. METHODS: The medical records of 59 patients who had received conservative or radical surgery for breast cancer were analyzed. All patients had been assigned to 6 cycles of "1,8 CMF" adjuvant chemotherapy and concomitant radiation therapy. Total drug dose and dose intensity were calculated. Toxicity was recorded scored according to WHO criteria. RESULTS: A total of 355 cycles was administered. Fifty of 59 patients received at least 85% of the programmed chemotherapy total dose, the median value being 100% (range, 42-100). The median relative dose intensity was 0.97 (range, 0.42-1.01). Forty-four of 59 (75%) patients experienced grade 3-4 neutropenia (20 febrile neutropenia) and 29 (49%) required G-CSF support. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective analysis showed that it is possible to give concurrent CMF and breast radiation while ensuring adequate chemotherapy total doses and dose intensities to most patients. However, G-CSF support is required in a significant proportion of patients.