EFFECT OF 2 CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC REGIMENS ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN BREAST-CANCER PATIENTS

We studied the effect of three and six cycles of two chemotherapeutic regimens, cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/5-fluorouracil (CMF) and cylop hosphamide/adriamycin/5-fluoroucil (CAF), on some biochemical paramete rs in premenopausal women with breast cancer. Adenosine deaminase (ADA ), 5' nucleotidase (5'-NT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities we re within those of a control group of healthy women. Both CMF and CAF regimens caused significant increases in 5'-NT activity; both therefor e affected adenosine degradation. The T lymphocyte count and interleuk en 2 (IL-2) level were significantly lower after surgery and before ch emotherapy, which indicated the immunosuppression associated with mali gnancy. CMF and CAF repaired this immunosuppression, as indicated by a significant rise in IL-2 level. Serum lipid and lipoprotein levels we re significant higher except for high density lipoprotein which was si gnificantly lower in the two groups of patients before treatment as co mpared with control levels. There was a significant decrease in low de nsity lipoprotein (LDL) level after treatment with CMF, and significan t increases in total lipid and B-lipoprotein after CAF treatment. Thes e results provide positive evidence that methotrexate has anti-atherog enic properties, with potency to decrease the raised LDL level which i s associated with a heightened risk of coronary heart disease. Carcino embryonic antigen (CEA) was more reliable than CA 15-3 as a tumour mar ker in the diagnosis of early breast cancer while CA15-3 was more reli able in the diagnosis of advanced clinical stages. Neither tumour mark er was useful for follow-up during chemotherapy. (C) 1998 Lippincott-R aven Publishers.