Cariati M, Bains SK, Grootendorst MR, Suyoi A, Peters AM, Mortimer P, Ellis P, Harries M, Van Hemelrijck M, Purushotham AD, et al.
The British journal of surgery. Date of publication 2015 Aug 1;volume 102(9):1071-8.
1. Br J Surg. 2015 Aug;102(9):1071-8. doi: 10.1002/bjs.9846. Epub 2015 Jun 3.
Adjuvant taxanes and the development of breast cancer-related arm lymphoedema.
Cariati M(1)(2), Bains SK(1), Grootendorst MR(1), Suyoi A(2), Peters AM(3),
Mortimer P(4), Ellis P(1)(2), Harries M(1)(2), Van Hemelrijck M(5), Purushotham
AD(1)(2).
Author information:
(1)Section of Research Oncology, King's College London, London, UK.
(2)Directorate of Haematology and Oncology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation
Trust, London, UK.
(3)Department of Nuclear Medicine, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS
Trust, Brighton, UK.
(4)Department of Clinical Sciences, St George's, University of London, London,
UK.
(5)School of Medicine, Cancer Epidemiology Group, Division of Cancer Studies,
King's College London, London, UK.
BACKGROUND: Despite affecting approximately one-quarter of all patients
undergoing axillary lymph node dissection, the pathophysiology of breast
cancer-related lymphoedema (BCRL) remains poorly understood. More extensive
locoregional treatment and higher body mass index have long been identified as
major risk factors. This study aimed to identify risk factors for BCRL with a
specific focus on the potential impact of chemotherapy on the risk of BCRL.
METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of a cohort of consecutive patients
with breast cancer treated at a major London regional teaching hospital between 1
January 2010 and 31 December 2012. All patients had node-positive disease and
underwent axillary lymph node dissection. Data regarding tumour-, patient- and
treatment-related characteristics were collected prospectively. The diagnosis of
BCRL was based on both subjective and objective criteria. Multivariable Cox
proportional hazards regression was used to assess the association between
treatment and risk of BCRL.
RESULTS: Some 27.1 per cent of all patients (74 of 273) developed BCRL over the
study period. Administration of taxanes showed a strong association with the
development of BCRL, as 52 (33.5 per cent) of 155 patients who received taxanes
developed BCRL. Multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated that patients
who received taxanes were nearly three times more likely to develop BCRL than
patients who had no chemotherapy (hazard ratio 2.82, 95 per cent c.i. 1.31 to
6.06). No such increase was observed when taxanes were administered in the
neoadjuvant setting.
CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that adjuvant taxanes play a key role in
the development of BCRL after surgery. This may support the use of taxanes in a
neoadjuvant rather than adjuvant setting.
© 2015 BJS Society Ltd Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
DOI: 10.1002/bjs.9846
PMID: 26040263 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
