Patient-related Risk Factors for Nausea and Vomiting with Standard Antiemetics in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Anthracycline-based Chemotherapy: A Retrospective Observational Study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify a high-risk or low-risk population for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting among patients with breast cancer treated with a current standard 3-drug antiemetic regimen and receiving anthracycline. METHODS: We analyzed data from chemotherapy-naive Japanese patients with breast cancer, who had received the first cycle of anthracycline-based regimen and were treated with a 3-drug combination of aprepitant, palonosetron, and dexamethasone. This study was carried out at Ehime University Hospital (Toon, Japan) using electronic medical records from May 2011 to June 2017. The primary end point was complete response (CR), which was defined as no emesis and no use of rescue medication. FINDINGS: A total of 103 patients were included in this study. The percentages of patients who had a CR in the overall, acute, and delayed phases were 35.0%, 40.8%, and 50.5%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age <55 years and body mass index <27.5 kg/m2 were significantly associated with an increased risk for CR failure in the overall and acute phases. In contrast, a history of alcohol habit was significantly associated with a decreased risk for CR failure in overall phase. IMPLICATIONS: The present findings suggest that, among patients with breast cancer receiving anthracycline and treated with aprepitant, palonosetron, and dexamethasone, patients younger than 55 years and having a body mass index <27.5 kg/m2 are high-risk populations for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, whereas those with a history of habitual alcohol consumption is a low-risk one.

[A Treatment Strategy against Double Presentation of Breast Cancer and Malignant Lymphoma].

Case 1 involved a 75-year-old woman with breast cancer and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL).Although we initially administered the R-CHOP regimen, the breast tumor increased in size and surgery had to be performed.After surgery, the R-CHOP regimen was re-initiated and DLBCL achieved clinical complete response.Case 2 involved a 74-year-old woman with breast cancer and gastric MALT lymphoma.After administration of rituximab and H. pylori eradication, a therapeutic effect was achieved in the lymphoma.A docetaxel and FEC regimen was continuously administered and surgery was performed. Case 3 involved a 62-year-old woman with breast cancer and follicular lymphoma.She presented with a history of DLBCL treatment.We performed mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy, which revealed metastasis of breast cancer, and axillary lymph node dissection was subsequently performed.Considering the pathological stage, adjuvant chemotherapy was needed.We selected the TCH regimen based on her past treatment.In conclusion, it is necessary to treat patients with double presentation of breast cancer and malignant lymphoma through cooperation with different departments.

[A Case of Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia with Bone Marrow Carcinomatosis from Breast Cancer].

We report a case of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia(MHA)caused by metastatic breast cancer treated with weekly paclitaxel. A 58-year-old woman was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer 2 years earlier. She was treated with various chemotherapy regimens and hormonal therapy, before being switched to fulvestrant 3 months earlier. She presented with severe anemia, and was diagnosed with MHA with bone marrow carcinomatosis following bone marrow biopsy. She was treated with weekly paclitaxel and recovered successfully. A subsequent biopsy showed that the bone marrow carcinomatosis had decreased. MHA due to breast cancer is rare and is associated with poor prognosis; however, rapid initiation of chemotherapy may be effective.

[A Case of Stage IV Breast Cancer with Long-Term Survival by Chemotherapy Developing Pulmonary Tumor Thrombotic Microangiopathy during the Treatment Course].

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy(PTTM)caused by pulmonary artery microscopic tumor emboli and fibrocellular and/or fibromuscular proliferation leads to progressive pulmonary hypertension and respiratory failure.The prognosis is extremely poor and most patients die shortly after onset.We report a patient with Stage IV breast cancer and long-term survival who developed PTTM during chemotherapy treatment.A 63-year-old woman with multiple metastases in her cerebellum, bone, lung, and lymph node after left breast conserving surgery started to experience dyspnea and malaise 7 years after the surgery.Two months later, she was urgently admitted to hospital because of respiratory failure and was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension.However, pulmonary thrombosis and tumor thrombus were not observed.We clinically diagnosed her with PTTM and administered chemotherapy in addition to treatment for pulmonary hypertension.Her medical condition improved gradually and she survived for the subsequent 2 years.When observing progressive hypoxia and pulmonary hypertension without obvious pulmonary embolism findings on imaging, PTTM should be considered.Early diagnosis and immediate induction of chemotherapy for primary disease can improve the survival of patients with PTTM.