Neutropenia induction by vinorelbine alone and in combination with doxorubicin and cisplatin in cancer patients

Neutropenia is a kind of leukopenia associated with shortage of neutrophils. It is included by myelotoxic drugs, acute infectious stress and leukemia. The anticancer drugs beside cancer treatment have the deleterious effects on the metabolism and vital organs. These drugs could damage the blood producing cells of bone marrow and reduce the neutrophils counts resulting in increased chance of infection. This study aimed to investigate the alterations in neutrophilic count in cancer patients and was administered vinorelbine as part of their chemotherapy. A total 60 adult cancer patients were randomly divided in to two groups; Group-1 received the treatment of Vinorelbine alone and group 2 patients on Vinorelbine base combinations. Results showed significantly lower potential of neutropenia induction in the patients on vinorelbine alone (p value <0.001) as compare with the patient received vinorelbine based combinations (p value 0.021). The comparison of mean values of these two groups at every week indicated higher chance of neutropenia at week-3 in the patients receiving vinorelbine based combinations (Mean +/- SEM: 1.8180 +/- 0.3018, p value 0.118). The mean neutrophils counts before therapy were significantly lower than that of after therapy in both of the groups (p values during weeks 0-4: 0.742, 0.208, 0.425, 0.048, and 0.791). However, among the groups, the potential for induction of neutropenia is similar. Thus; in conclusion, there is no significant difference in the overall neutropenia in both of the chemotherapy protocols. The clinical oncologist, consultant physician and pharmacist, can select either of the treatment plan.