How do leukocytes react in breast cancer?
As with all cancers, the cells in breast cancer grow rapidly and form mutations. These are the cancer cells. In order to fight the foreign bodies, the organism forms a large number of white blood cells. First, in breast cancer, these leukocytes multiply by leaps and bounds. This particularly affects the granulocytes . The “scavenger cells” exist as a subset of the white blood cells . The organism maintains the increasing production of leukocytes only for a short time. Leukopenia follows .
At the beginning of the disease – increased levels of leukocytes
The white blood cells ensure the destruction of pathogens and foreign substances in the body. Mutated cells also attack the leukocytes. At the beginning of breast cancer, an ulcer forms in the breast tissue. The tumor remains small for the time being. This increases the concentration of leukocytes in the blood. The increased number results from the increasing demand of the white blood cells. The more cancer cells develop, the more leukocytes the organism produces.
The number of leukocytes in breast cancer increases until it exceeds the normal value. The human organism can only maintain the increased concentration for a certain period of time. In the long term, leukocyte counts in breast cancer decrease until they are below normal levels. In this case, doctors speak of leukopenia . In the same case, the actual treatment of the disease leads to a reduced number of white blood cells.
Why does the white blood cell count drop in breast cancer?
Leukopenia is present when the leukocyte value is in the lower limit. The number of white blood cells is less than 4,000 per microliter of blood. In the case of breast cancer, the leukocytes are reduced because post-production is halted. This reduced concentration has serious health consequences. The patient’s immune system is weakened. For this reason, viruses, bacteria or other antigens get into the organism more quickly.
Subsequent infections are also an effect of the low leukocyte concentration in breast cancer. As a result, those affected usually suffer more frequently from bacterial and viral infections. The treatment of the cancer disease brings with it a further reduction in the number of leukocytes. This is mainly due to chemotherapy , in which patients are given various drugs.
These are often cytostatics. These do not only attack the mutated cancer cells. Production of white blood cells is inhibited. If the value of the leukocytes in breast cancer is below 3,000 per microliter of blood, the doctors interrupt the treatment. They only continue this when the white blood cells regenerate to at least 4,000 leukocytes per microliter of blood.
Chemotherapy, usually before surgery, ensures that the tumor shrinks. White blood cells remain in the low range in patients after surgery. This is due to the subsequent treatment with the drug Taxol. The drug prevents the cancer cells from spreading further. As a cytostatic, it also reduces the production of leukocytes in breast cancer.
The New England Journal of Medicine published a study on “adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer” in early 2015
The authors of the study, Dr. Larry Norton and Dr. Eric Winer belong to the CALGB Cancer & Leukemia Group B consortium. They proved the lack of effect of taxol. Other cytostatics inhibit the production of leukocytes to a lesser extent. Therefore, they are considered a good alternative to this drug.
Does the leukocyte count increase after cancer treatment?
As a rule, the concentration of leukocytes recovers after breast cancer and the subsequent procedure. The values reach the normal range. The immune system is strengthened again, so that the risk of subsequent infections decreases. If the disease breaks out again, the reduced leukocytes indicate this in a timely manner. Therefore, those affected consult their doctor on a regular basis.
A sudden increase in white blood cells indicates a complication, as does a steady drop in the number of leukocytes. For this reason, regular blood tests are given high priority for the patients.
The leukocytes in breast cancer summarized
In breast cancer, mutated cancer cells form in the area of the breast tissue. To combat this, the organism produces a large number of white blood cells. Especially at the beginning of the disease, there is a sudden increase in leukocytes. The body only maintains their increased production for a short period of time. After that, the number of leukocytes in breast cancer decreases. Leukopenia develops. Treatment of the disease also inhibits cell production.
Further:
https://www.krebsinformationsdienst.de/behandlung/chemotherapie-nebenwirkungen.php
