EFFECTS OF PACLITAXEL/EPIRUBICIN CHEMOTHERAPY ON IMMUNE CELL PROFILES IN PROSTATE CANCER PATIENTS ATTENDING USMANU DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY TEACHNG HOSPITAL, SOKOTO

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains a significant global health burden, and while chemotherapeutic regimens are effective, they often induce myelotoxicity. This study was conducted at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, evaluated the impact of the Paclitaxel-Epirubicin regimen on peripheral immune cell profiles in PCa patients. Using Full Blood Count (FBC), peripheral immune cell counts were compared before and after the regimen, and across five consecutive doses, with analysis performed using Wilcoxon matched-pairs and Friedman tests. The results demonstrated significant post-chemotherapy reductions in neutrophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes (all p < 0.0001), with neutrophils showing a marked drop from 37.8% to 20.18% (p < 0.0001), contrasting with no significant change in eosinophil counts (p = 0.454). In conclusion, the Paclitaxel-Epirubicin regimen causes pronounced myelotoxicity; the Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) thus emerges as the most sensitive and reliable routine marker of cumulative haematological toxicity, and an early decrease in monocyte levels may serve as a potential predictive indicator for impending neutropenia, which is vital for guiding supportive-care protocols.