Publication

Abstract : Chemotherapy induced amenorrhea (CIA) is associated with improved disease free survival (DFS) in women with ER/PR-positive breast cancer and no association was observed in those with ER/PR-negative tumors. To assess the incidence of chemotherapy induced amenorrhea (CIA) with the addition of taxanes to anthracycline regimen in premenopausal patients diagnosed as hormone receptor positive breast cancer. A retrospective study was carried out at Amala cancer hospital & research centre, Kerala. Patients were placed in to two subgroups depending on the type of chemotherapy that had been administered: anthracyclines regimens either with or without taxanes. Out of 50 ER+/PR+ patients considered, 36 were on anthracycline regimen alone (Group 1)and14 were on anthracycline + taxane regimen (Group 2) and.100% of group 2 and (75%) of group 1 experienced CIA (P=0.0470, RR=1.333). The permanency of CIA was also high in group 2 than in group 1. (64.2% Vs 48.1%) (P=0.5100, RR=1.335). A slight increase in CIA was prevalent in women >40yrs (89.6% Vs 71.4%) (P=0.1404, RR=1.255) The permanency of CIA was also high in patients who were >40 yrs old (69.2% Vs 26.6%) (P=0.0115, RR=2.596) Our study concluded the higher incidence of CIA in Anthracycline + taxane group than Anthracycline alone that can increase disease free survival in ER+/PR+ breast cancer patients.