A retrospective study evaluating the effect of hepatic steatosis on paclitaxel tolerability in patients with breast cancer

Abstract

Specific Aims: To evaluate the effect of hepatic steatosis on paclitaxel tolerability in patients with breast cancer and determine if metabolic syndrome contributes to the development of hepatic steatosis. Methods: At the University of Arizona Cancer Center, the electronic medical record was used to identify patients who received paclitaxel for breast cancer between September 1st, 2017 to October 15th, 2022. Data was extracted from Cerner PowerChart and stored on RedCap. Information gathered included the presence of hepatic steatosis on abdominal imaging, patient demographics, past medical history, LFT abnormalities, cancer staging, and paclitaxel dosing. Results: 219 patients were identified who met inclusion criteria for the study. 29% of patients had hepatic steatosis on imaging. Of those, 52% were noted to have hepatic steatosis prior to paclitaxel treatment, and 6% during paclitaxel treatment. Dose reduction was not statistically significant in patients with hepatic steatosis versus those without (46% vs 42%, p-value = 0.68). Patients with hepatic steatosis were more likely to be obese and have at least one comorbidity, but did not meet criteria for metabolic syndrome (p-value = 0.09) Conclusion: Paclitaxel was tolerated similarly in those with or without hepatic steatosis. Patients with hepatic steatosis were likely to meet some but not all criteria for metabolic syndrome.