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The combination of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin and paclitaxel was active in locally advanced breast cancer. The primary toxicity was cutaneous toxicity and it was manageable.

Background: Oxaliplatin is a novel platinum derivative with established anti-tumor activity in colorectal cancer. Acute-onset hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia associated with this drug have rarely been reported and some of these cases have been severe or even fatal. Case Report: This case report describes a patient who developed fever, chills, abdominal and back pain as well as sudden-onset severe thrombocytopenia, upper gastrointestinal bleeding and hemolysis immediately after treatment with oxaliplatin for metastatic colorectal cancer. The reaction appeared during the 14th cycle of chemotherapy. Corticosteroids and antihistamines were administered together with platelet transfusions. Over the next 2 days platelet count improved and the syndrome abated. The patient was discharged 4 days later. Furthermore, the reaction was accompanied by a strongly positive Coombs test and increased TNF-α and IL-10 serum levels which returned to normal following anti-inflammatory drug administration. Conclusion: Physicians should be aware of the possibility of acute hematological emergencies following oxaliplatin administration.

The current results provide further evidence on the efficacy of information-giving interventions in societies where disclosure of information to cancer patients still remains controversial.

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