Abstract: Abstract Objective To investigate the effects of intravenous infusion with Paclitaxel on the plasma level of catecholamine. Methods From July 2008 to May 2009, 50 rats with tumor formed by planting Walker-256 cell were distributed into 4 experimental groups and 1 control group. Each group included 10 rats. The rats in experimental groups received intravenous infusion of Paclitaxel, while the rats in control group received intravenous infusion of normal sodium. The tumor resection operation for the control group was taken 1 week after infusion of normal sodium, while the same operation for the experimental groups were given at the end of the first, the second, the third and the fourth week after receiving intravenous infusion Paclitaxel. The blood of all the rats were taken before and during the operation of tumor resection, and then the plasma concentration of catecholamine were measured respectively. Results the intravenous infusion of Paclitaxel before operation could greatly improve the plasma level of norepinephrine, and it reached peak at the end of the second week. Conclusions Intravenous infusion of Paclitaxel can induce significant stress response which is characterized by the increase of plasma level of norepinephrine. It indicates that the stress system become to the better state 2 weeks after intravenous infusion of Paclitaxel.

Key words: Perioperative period, Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, Catecholamine, Breast cancer