# Risk factors for dyseugia during chemotherapy in breast cancer women: A cohort STROBE-guided

## TL;DR

This study finds that breast cancer patients receiving AC-T chemotherapy experience taste changes linked to weight loss, lower quality of life, and other health issues.

## Contribution

The study identifies cycle-dependent dysgeusia and its associations with BMI, general health, and trastuzumab use in breast cancer patients.

## Key findings

- Dysgeusia increases with each AC-T cycle and is linked to reduced salivary flow and lower BMI.
- Trastuzumab use and age are significant risk factors for taste changes during chemotherapy.
- Poorer quality of life and oral health are associated with low gustatory sensitivity in patients.

## Abstract

To evaluate the taste function of breast cancer patients undergoing Doxorubicin-Cyclophosphamide-Taxanes (AC-T) chemotherapy.

68 breast cancer patients treated with AC-T were objectively (taste function) and subjectively (scales) evaluated in each chemotherapy cycle. Quality-of-life (QoL), other side effects, clinical-pathological and sociodemographic data, hematological test, general health scores, and the Body Mass Index (BMI) were additionally evaluated. ANOVA-RM/Bonferroni, Friedman/Dunn, chi-square/Fisher's exact tests were applied (SPSS 20.0, p<0.05).

There was a reduction in gustatory sensitivity (p<0.001), salivary flow (p<0.001), periodontal health (p<0.001), and QoL (p<0.001) from the third AC-T cycle and an increase in all side effects. There was an association between low taste sensitivity and lower BMI (p=0.008) and general health scores (p=0.006). Low gustatory sensitivity events was directly associated with the number of AC-T cycles (p<0.001), reduced salivary flow (p=0.019), poorer QoL (p<0.05), and a higher incidence of nausea and anorexia (p<0.05). In addition, age (p<0.001) and trastuzumab (p<0.001) were potential risk factors for dysgeusia.

The incidence of dysgeusia is high in breast cancer patients treated with AC-T; it is cycle-dependent and is associated with weight loss, poorer QoL, and impaired oral and general health. The mechanisms involved in the use of trastuzumab should be investigated.