Alterations in laboratory test results during adjuvant breast cancer treatment

An increasing number of women is treated with adjuvant cyclophosphamide, me thotrexate and 5-fluorouracil therapy for breast cancer. The effects of the chemotherapy on many laboratory tests are, however, inadequately known. Th is study investigates the effects of the treatment on various laboratory te sts. Fifteen premenopausal women receiving adjuvant cyclophosphamide, metho trexate and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy and optional radiotherapy were incl uded in the study. Common hormonal, biochemical, hematological, protein and lipid laboratory tests were taken serially during a 10-month follow-up. Tw elve women became amenorrheic. Their serum follicle stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone concentrations increased accordingly. Other serum horm ones (testosterone, androstenedione, sex hormone-binding globulin, prolacti n, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, cortisol, parathyroid hormone and thyroi d hormones) changed only slightly. Hemoglobin concentration and white blood cell count decreased slightly. Serum alanine aminotransferase, alkaline ph osphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, angiotensin-converting e nzyme, amylase, glucose, potassium, phosphate, urea and triglycerides conce ntrations increased slightly whereas serum bilirubin, haptoglobin, and immu noglobulin A and M decreased slightly. Serum alpha(1)-antitrypsin fluctuate d around the baseline concentration. Other test results remained at their p retreatment concentrations. With the exception of increases in serum gonado trophins, the changes observed were slight and the mean concentrations rema ined within reference limits. Therefore, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil adjuvant treatment is unlikely to complicate the diagnosis of other diseases.