Assessment of CBC Changes in Breast Cancer Patients Following Treatment with 5-Flourouracil, Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide (FAC-Protocol) and Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide (AC-Protocol)

Objective: FAC (5 fluorouracil, Adriamycin and cyclophosphamide) and AC (Adriamycin and cyclophosphamide) protocols have significant anti-tumor activity in patients with breast cancer. Our objective was to evaluate the CBC changes in patients undergoing FAC and AC protocols. Methodology: A comparative retrospective study was performed to determine CBC changes in breast cancer patients following 5-Flourouracil, Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide (FAC-Protocol) and Adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (ACProtocol) among 150 breast cancer patients following 4 cycles of respective protocols. Marital status, surgical history, stages, diagnosis and receptor status were also determined. The parameters under observation were hemoglobin, platelets, MCV, MCHC, RBC's, WBC's, monocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Results: FAC and AC protocol influenced the values of CBC in breast cancer patients in different patterns. A mild decrease in the Hemoglobin level and a significant decrease in the value of RBC's and significant increase in the level of MCV was observed in the study population after 4 cycles of both FAC and AC protocols of chemotherapy where most of the parameters such as platelets, MCV, Monocytes, Neutrophils, Eosinophils, Lymphocytes and WBCs remained in the normal range except hemoglobin, MCHC and RBCs by the end of 4th cycle of the therapy. Conclusion: No significant difference was observed with the CBC changes in both protocols. A frequent investigation of CBC parameters and careful selection of chemotherapy protocol should be done in patients who are prone to CBC disturbances.