ALTERATIONS IN ERYTHROCYTE-MEMBRANE STRUCTURE OF BREAST-CANCER PATIENTS TREATED WITH CMF-A LIPID PROFILE

Most of the breast cancer patients are treated with CMF which is a com bination of three anticancer agents namely cyclophosphamide, methotrex ate and 5-fluorouracil. The metabolites of CMF induce the level of lip id peroxides in the system, which are circulated in the blood. The pre sent study reports the effect of CMF on the levels of cholesterol and phospholipids in erythrocytes of breast cancer patients showing a sign ificant increase in the level of phospholipids. As the cholesterol/pho spholipid ratio increases, the fluidity of the membrane decreases, the reby altering the architecture of the erythrocyte membrane in the brea st cancer patients treated with CMF.