Acute effects of taxanes on sub-tissue fluid proportions in patients with breast cancer who underwent taxane-based chemotherapy

Abstract Purpose Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is one of the most burdensome chronic side effects of breast cancer treatment. This study aimed to analyze the acute effects of taxane-based CT on the potential BCRL among unilateral breast cancer (BC) patients by using the tissue dielectric constant (TDC) method. Methods The TDC method was performed via MoistureMeterD (DelfinTech, Finland) which generates a 300-MHz electromagnetic wave in the control unit and is transmitted via a probe. Both upper extremities were assessed in the predefined reference points (arm, forearm, thorax, and web space) via different penetration depths from 0.5 to 5.0 mm probes before and after the completion of chemotherapy. Results A total of 51 BC patients were included in this study. Twelve and 39 patients were referred to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT), respectively. In the adjuvant CT, the web space reference point was found to have significantly higher TDC value in 0.5-, 1.5-, and 2.5-mm probe depths after CT. In the NACT, no significant change was found before and after CT in all reference points except for the affected site thorax reference point. Conclusion This study showed that there was no significant acute increase in inter-arm TDC ratios after taxane-based chemotherapy. However, the forearm and web space should be thoroughly monitored in patients to discriminate against BCRL who underwent adjuvant CT since the potential BCRL and peripheral edema due to taxanes might have affected each other.