Lymphocytopenia; induced by vinorelbine, doxorubicin and cisplatin in human cancer patients.

Cancer chemotherapy exerts deleterious effects in patients, causing structural and physiological changes to their vital organs. These drugs are capable of destroying bone marrow cells and may reduce lymphocyte count. This study was aimed to investigate the frequency of lymphocytopenia in cancer patients taking vinorelbine and its combination as part of cancer chemotherapy. A total 60 adult cancer patients were selected and divided into two groups; Group-1 patients were either on Vinorelbine alone treatment protocol, while group 2 patients were on either Vinorelbine/Cisplatin or Vinorelbine/Doxorubicin treatment protocol. The mean ± SEM lymphocyte counts (× 10^{3}) per uL, pre and post chemotherapy were noted. The outcomes demonstrated no statistically important difference in the patients who were either on vinorelbine alone, vinorelbine plus cisplatin or vinorelbine plus doxorubicin combinations. On comparison of the lymphocytopenia over time for Group-I & II (P-values 0.064, 0.23), and at every week (P-value -0.063, 0.427), we observed the non significant statistical differences. However, comparison of mean values before with that of at week-1,2 and 3 showed significant (P-value^{3} 0.003, 0.003 and 0.055), and at week-4 no significant difference (P-value^{3} 0.727). Thus, the overall lymphocytopenic syndrome in both of the chemotherapy protocols allows the clinical oncologists and consultant physicians to select either of the chemotherapy protocol. Vinorelbine may be a choice of cancer chemotherapy, as they do not compromise immunity in cancer patients. Hence; therapeutic efficacy should constitute the intervening consideration in treating a particular neoplasm.