The impact of myelosuppression on quality of life of patients treated with chemotherapy

Abstract

Side effects from chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression can negatively affect patients' quality of life (QoL). Neutropenia increases infection risk, and anemia frequently results in debilitating fatigue. Additionally, the bleeding risk associated with thrombocytopenia can lead to fear and anxiety. However, traditional interventions for myelosuppression fall short of the ideal. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors reduce the risk of severe neutropenia but commonly lead to bone pain. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents are not always effective and may cause thromboembolic events, while transfusions to correct anemia/thrombocytopenia are associated with transfusion reactions and volume overload. Trilaciclib, which is approved for reducing myelosuppression in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, together with several investigational agents in development for managing myelosuppression have the potential to improve QoL for patients on chemotherapy.

A Clinical Analysis of Anti-Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatments Combined with Chemotherapy in Untreated Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer

“…The administration of induction chemotherapy was found to decrease the NLR and improve the outcomes of cancer patients receiving anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy [30]. However, severe myelosuppression during anti-cancer therapy has been reported to negatively affect the survival outcomes of cancer patients, because severe myelosuppression (such as neutropenia) leads to the delay, interruption, and dose reduction of anti-cancer treatments [31]. Taken together, these factors explain why patients with grade 3 neutropenia had significantly shorter OS than those without severe neutropenia.…”

Clinical Profiles, Laboratory Biomarkers, and Mortality in Cancer Patients with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: A Prospective Cohort Study

“…Platelet profiles varied significantly among malignancies, with patients with leukemia exhibiting a higher prevalence of thrombocytopenia and those with lymphoma showing a higher prevalence of thrombocytosis. These findings may reflect differences in platelet production, consumption, and the underlying pathophysiology of hematological cancers [ 36 , 37 , 38 ].…”

The Alleviating Effect of Gallic Acid on Chemotherapy-Induced Myelosuppression

“…Current methods for treating bone marrow suppression include the administration of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (RhG-CSF), erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, and blood transfusions. However, each of these approaches has its drawbacks: RhG-CSF can induce bone pain, erythropoiesisstimulating agents may lead to thrombosis, and blood transfusions can trigger transfusion reactions [13]. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies.…”