Herpes infections in breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy

Oncology. 2006;71(3-4):164-7. doi: 10.1159/000106065. Epub 2007 Jul 18.

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-one patients 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.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anthracyclines
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / virology*
  • Breast Neoplasms, Male / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms, Male / virology
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Female
  • Herpes Simplex / complications
  • Herpes Simplex / epidemiology
  • Herpes Zoster / complications
  • Herpes Zoster / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Taxoids

Substances

  • Anthracyclines
  • Taxoids