title: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to prevent dose-limiting neutropenia in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: The effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on neutropenia, infection, and cytotoxic chemotherapy administration was studied in a randomized trial in patients receiving intensive weekly chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Eighty patients (aged 16 to 71 years) with high-grade NHL (Kiel) of any stage were randomized to receive VAPEC-B chemotherapy alone (39 patients) or with G-CSF administered as a daily subcutaneous dose of 230 micrograms/m2 (41 patients). Prophylactic ketoconazole and cotrimoxazole were administered to all patients throughout treatment. The protocol specified identical dose modification and antibiotic treatment criteria bor both groups. Neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count [ANC] less than 1.0 x 10(9)/L) occurred in 15 of 41 (37%) of the G-CSF-treated patients and in 33 of 39 (85%) of the controls, giving a relative risk for control patients of 2.31 (95% confidence interval [CI], [1.51, 3.54]; P = .00001). Fever (greater than or equal to 37.5 degrees C) with neutropenia (ANC less than 1.0 x 10(9)/L) occurred in 9 of 41 (22%) of the G-CSF group and in 17 of 39 (44%) of the controls (relative risk for control, 2.26; 95% CI [1.01, 5.06]; P = .04). There were fewer treatment delays, with shorter duration (P = .01) in patients receiving G-CSF. Chemotherapy doses were reduced in 4 of 41 (10%) of the G-CSF patients and 13 of 39 (33%) of the controls (P = .01). The dose intensity of cytotoxic chemotherapy was significantly increased in patients receiving G-CSF (median of 95% in G-CSF group compared with 83% in control patients). Three vascular deaths occurred in the G-CSF group. Delays in the control group most commonly resulted from neutropenia (19 patients, compared with 2 patients in the G-CSF-treated group, P = .000007). Severe mucositis was the major dose-limiting toxicity in G-CSF-treated patients, but did not occur more frequently than in controls (15 patients in each group). Overall, patients randomized to receive G-CSF achieved a greater dose intensity than control patients, but this did not result in significant differences in drug toxicity (other than neutropenia), intravenous antibiotic usage, or hospitalization between the two groups.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Campaign Department of Medical Oncology, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pettengell
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gurney
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Radford
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Deakin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bentley
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crowther
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide