PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF COMBINED BONE MARROW AND PERIPHERAL BLOOD ASSESSMENT IN CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED LEUKOPENIA

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced leukopenia remains one of the principal hematological
toxicities limiting systemic anticancer treatment. Although routine monitoring relies on
peripheral blood counts, these measurements describe the consequence of bone marrow
suppression rather than its underlying biological state. Bone marrow examination provides
direct information on hematopoietic activity, granulocytic maturation, and marrow reserve,
offering insights that cannot be obtained from peripheral blood analysis alone. Recent
studies suggest that combining peripheral blood findings with myelographic characteristics
may improve risk assessment and facilitate more individualized supportive care. This
review summarizes current evidence on the complementary role of peripheral blood and
bone marrow evaluation in predicting chemotherapy-induced leukopenia and discusses
their potential clinical application.