Clinical Study

Herpes Infections in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Adjuvant Chemotherapy
Giovanna Masci^a, Massimo Magagnoli^a, Giuseppe Gullo^a, Emanuela Morenghi^b, Isabella Garassino^a, Matteo Simonelli^a, Armando Santoro<sup>a

a</sup>Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, and
^bClinical Trial Office, Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Milan, Italy

Address of Corresponding Author

Oncology 2006;71:164-167 (DOI: 10.1159/000106065)

  Key Words

• Herpes infection
• Adjuvant chemotherapy
• Breast cancer

  Abstract

Objective: There is little information on Herpes zoster infection in breast cancer patients as a complication during adjuvant chemotherapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of Herpes zoster and simplex infections in this patients setting. Methods: We analyzed 623 early-stage breast cancer patients in our Institute over a period of 7 years (1998-2005). Four-hundred and sixty-onepatients were treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy, 116 with CMF and 46 with taxane-containing regimens. Results: Twelve (1.9%) developed herpes zoster; 9 patients, receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy, two taxane-containing regimens, and one CMF regimen. Herpes zoster infection required treatment delay in 6 patients. Adjuvant chemotherapy was delayed for 1 week in 2 patients, while in 4 patients with more severe symptoms chemotherapy was delayed for 2 weeks. One patient, despite i.v. acyclovir, had severe postherpetic motor neuropathy with a permanent ambulation impairment, and chemotherapy was stopped. In our study, herpes zoster occurred in 55/1,000 cases/year. The reported incidence in the general population varies between 2.2 and 4.1 per 1,000 patients/year; therefore, the risk of developing herpes zoster in these patients may be 13- to 25-fold higher compared to the incidence in the general population. In addition, 13 of 623 patients developed herpes simplex. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that adjuvant chemotherapy can facilitate reactivation of herpes infection.

Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Giovanna Masci, MD
Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Istituto Clinico Humanitas
Via Manzoni 56
IT-20089 Rozzano, Milano (Italy)
Tel. +39 02 8224 3510, Fax +39 02 8224 4591, E-Mail giovanna.masci@humanitas.it

  Article Information

Received: November 14, 2006
Accepted after revision: March 10, 2007
Published online: July 18, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 13