High-dose chemotherapy: therapeutic potential in the age of growth factor support.
The steep dose-response curve for most chemotherapeutic drugs and the need to overcome tumor resistance has resulted in renewed interest in the use of high-dose chemotherapy. Bone marrow rescue has allowed the dose-limiting barrier of hematopoietic suspension to be overcome. However, despite such salvage methods and the use of blood products and effective antibiotics, myelosuppression remains a major obstacle to treatment. The use of recombinant colony-stimulating factors in combination with bone marrow following high-dose chemotherapy may well shorten the period of neutropenia and reduce the frequency of neutropenia-related complications, thus making high-dose treatment more acceptable.
Ariad
S
S
Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Bezwoda
W R
WR
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors