Efficacy of Dexamethasone for Reducing Rash in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Docetaxel/Cyclophosphamide Therapy

Docetaxel plus cyclophosphamide (TC) therapy is standard adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. In TC therapy, rash frequently occurs and results in decreased quality of life for patients. In this study, we performed a retrospective analysis of the efficacy of dexamethasone (Dex) for reducing rash associated with TC therapy. Forty-two patients treated with TC therapy at our hospital between April 2012 and March 2014 were examined. The patients were classified into a low Dex group (n = 17), who were administered Dex (6.6 mg) before chemotherapy, and a high Dex group (n = 25), who were administered Dex (13.2 mg) before chemotherapy. On Days 2-4, both groups were orally administered Dex (4 mg/day). The incidence of rash in the low Dex group was Grade 1: 29.4%, Grade 2: 41.2%, Grade 3: 11.8%; the incidence of rash in the high Dex group was Grade 1: 56.0%, and Grade 2: 16.0%. The incidence of rash in the high Dex group was significantly lower than that in the low Dex group (P = 0.031). In both groups, rash appeared frequently in the first course (no significant difference). No difference was observed considering other adverse events between the two groups. Additionally, no other adverse events caused by Dex were observed, including consumption of a sleeping pill, treatment for gastric ulcer, marked worsening of diabetes mellitus, or reactivated hepatitis B virus. Our investigation suggests that administration of increased Dex doses before chemotherapy with TC is effective in reducing rash.