Comparative study of the toxicity of 5-fluorouracil-adriamycin-cyclophosphamide versus adriamycin-cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel in carcinoma breast.

CONTEXT: When cure is possible treatment should be undertaken despite life-threatening toxicities. Fluorouracil-Adriamycin-Cyclophosphamide (FAC) and Adriamycin-Cyclophosphamide (AC-P) are two popular regimens used in the treatment of carcinoma breast and the data regarding the toxicity profile of the AC-P regimen is scarce in the South Indian population.

AIMS: To study the severity of different types of toxicities seen in patients on FAC and AC-P regimens, to grade the toxicity according to the World Health Organization (WHO) toxicity grading, and to compare the same.

SETTINGS AND

DESIGN

A prospective observational study, with 50 patients in each regimen, was conducted in the Department of Radiotherapy between February 2007 and July 2008.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The high risk patients received the AC-P regimen and the rest received the FAC regimen. The toxicities developed were graded according to the WHO guidelines.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The data was analyzed using the chi square test in SPSS 16.

RESULTS

Anemia, hyperpigmentation, stomatitis, and diarrhea were significantly high (P < 0.05) in patients receiving the FAC regimen, whereas, leukopenia, myalgia, arthralgia and peripheral neuropathy were significantly high (P < 0.05) in patients receiving the AC-P regimen. The Karnofsky performance status was higher in patients receiving the AC-P regimen.

CONCLUSIONS

Although both the regimens had different toxicity profiles the quality of life was better for patients on the AC-P regimen.