Risk of Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome in Trials of Adjuvant Epirubicin for Early Breast Cancer: Correlation With Doses of Epirubicin and Cyclophosphamide

Abstract

Patients treated with standard cumulative doses of adjuvant epirubicin (</= 720 mg/m(2)) and cyclophosphamide (</= 6,300 mg/m(2)) for early breast cancer have a lower probability of secondary leukemia than patients treated with higher cumulative doses. Increased risk of secondary leukemia must be considered when assessing the potential benefit to risk ratio of higher than standard doses.