Meibomian gland changes in breast cancer patients treated with docetaxel-partial results

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate that the narrowing and/ or atrophy of the Meibomian glands is the cause of the occurrence of hyperlacrimation in women who suffer from breast cancer and who have docetaxel in their treatment regimen. Method: The study involved 10 patients diagnosed with breast cancer, who received docetaxel as treatment (study group), and 10 breast cancer patients receiving other chemotherapy treatment (control group). The study was a prospective, controlled and comparative. We mainly analyzed two very important indicators, non-invasive tear film breaking time (NKBUT) and meibography. Results: A decrease and/ or narrowing of Meibomian glands in the study group (breast cancer patients treated with docetaxel) was observed on the meibography. Also, a decrease of the NKBUT was observed in the study group. The average variation of NKBUT in docetaxel patients (22%) and the average variation of meiboscopy in docetaxel patients (33%) showed the effect of docetaxel over time compared to patients who received other anticancer therapy, in whom the mean variation was very small, natural. Conclusions: The action of docetaxel at the level of the two studied indicators (NKBUT and Meiboscopy) was noteworthy at the level of the study group, the changes observed in the Meibomian glands being reversible. They resolved within a few weeks of completion of docetaxel treatment. Abbreviations: RE = right eye, OSD = ocular surface disease, NKBUT = noninvasive keratography tear breaking time.

Keywords: Meibomian glands; breast cancer; docetaxel; epiphora.

Fig. 1

Decrease in NKBUT from time t0 to time t6 in patients receiving docetaxel chemotherapy

Fig. 2

Increased narrowing and/ or decreased number of Meibomian - meibography glands in patients starting docetaxel treatment from time t0 to time t6

Fig. 3

The NKBUT did not register changes from time t0 to t6 (control group)

Fig. 4

Meiboscopy did not undergo changes during the 6 months of antineoplastic treatment, other than docetaxel (control group)

Fig. 5

The average variation of the NKBUT on the study group, between t0 and t6 (22% average variation in patients receiving docetaxel with a decrease in NKBUT)

Fig. 6

The average variation of the NKBUT on the control lot, between t0 and t6 (5% average variation of patients with other chemotherapy treatments had a decrease in NKBUT, a very small value, natural average value)

Fig. 7

The average variation of the degree of meiboscopy on the study group, between t0 and t6 (33% average variation in patients receiving docetaxel, who showed changes on meiboscopy - a narrowing and/ or atrophy of the Meibomian glands)

Fig. 8

The average variation of the degree of meiboscopy on the control group, between t0 and t6 (3% average variation in patients undergoing other chemotherapy treatment with changes on meiboscopy)