Anthracyclines, Mitoxantrone, Radiotherapy, and Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor: Risk Factors for Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome After Breast Cancer

Abstract

This large case-control study demonstrates that the risk of AML/MDS is much higher with mitoxantrone-based chemotherapy than with anthracyclines-based chemotherapy in a population of women recently treated for breast cancer. The risk of AML/MDS associated with mitoxantrone must be kept in mind when using this drug to treat diseases other than breast cancer (eg, prostate cancer or multiple sclerosis). In addition, our study suggests the need to monitor the long-term effects of G-CSF therapy.