Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part A (2025)

Background: Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN) is a common dose-limiting toxicity in cancer treatment, increasing the risk of infections and potentially affecting treatment outcomes. Understanding the incidence and clinical impact of CIN in patients with solid tumors is essential for optimizing therapy.
Objective: To evaluate the incidence, severity, and impact of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia on treatment outcomes in patients with solid tumors.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 52 patients with histologically confirmed solid tumors receiving standard chemotherapy regimens. Neutropenia was graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0. Treatment outcomes, including response rate, dose delays, and survival, were analyzed.
Results: Among 52 patients, 28 (53.8%) developed CIN during chemotherapy. Grade 1-2 neutropenia occurred in 16 patients (30.8%), and grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred in 12 patients (23.1%). CIN led to chemotherapy dose delays in 10 patients (19.2%) and dose reductions in 6 patients (11.5%). The overall response rate (complete + partial response) was 61.5% in patients without CIN compared to 46.4% in patients with CIN (p=0.04). There was a trend toward lower 6-month progression-free survival in patients with grade 3-4 neutropenia, although not statistically significant (p=0.08).
Conclusion: CIN is common in patients undergoing chemotherapy for solid tumors and is associated with treatment delays, dose reductions, and a modest decrease in response rates. Early identification and management of neutropenia may improve treatment outcomes.