Hartmann P, Herholz K, Salzberger B, Petereit H F
Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93042 Regensburg, Germany.
Ann Hematol. 2004 Apr;83(4):212-7. doi: 10.1007/s00277-003-0802-2. Epub 2003 Nov 26.
Temozolomide, a recently approved cytotoxic agent for the treatment of malignant glioma, has shown promising results in the treatment studies published so far. However, cytopenia and related infectious complications have been reported in 2-8% of cases. Here we present three treatment-naive patients with malignant glioma experiencing cytopenia and/or infectious complications after the first cycle of temozolomide. Neutrophils obtained from each patient up to 6 weeks after the end of the temozolomide application showed normal phagocytic capacity but decreased oxygen radical production and thus impairment of microcidal activity. Our data suggest that a prolonged impairment of the immunological defense may occur in temozolomide-treated patients.
