How breast cancer chemotherapy increases the risk of leukemia: Thoughts about a case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and leukemia after breast cancer chemotherapy

Cancer Biol Ther. 2016;17(2):125-8. doi: 10.1080/15384047.2016.1139233. Epub 2016 Feb 9.

Abstract

The latest studies suggest that prophylactic chemotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer may increase the leukemia risk in patients. For patients with a low risk for breast cancer recurrence, physicians who make the choice for adjuvant therapy should consider the risk of its long-term side effects. Is the occurrence of lymphatic system cancer and leukemia after breast cancer treatment associated with chemotherapy? Can these types of leukemia be classified as therapy-related leukaemias? We believe that there may be correlations between any diseases, butwe cannot rush to conclusions or dismiss a correlation because we understand little about the diseases themselves.In this paper, we present a case of secondary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and leukemia in patients after breast cancer chemotherapy, it is undeniable that this is a special event. For two distinct tumouroccurrences at different times, we cannot give a clear explanation because of thechanges in the genes that might link them together and we hope to attract the attention of other clinicians.

Keywords: Breast cancer; bone marrow puncture; lymphoma; lymphoma cell leukemia; therapy-related leukaemias.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bone Marrow Cells / drug effects
  • Bone Marrow Cells / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / chemically induced
  • Leukemia / diagnosis
  • Leukemia / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / chemically induced
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / diagnosis
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / pathology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / chemically induced
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / pathology*