title: A pilot study of the biologic and therapeutic effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (filgrastim) in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia.
abstract: In a carefully monitored pilot study, the in vivo biologic effects of filgrastim were investigated in eight patients with relapsed/refractory acute myelogenous leukemia. Within each patient, filgrastim was administered as a single agent prior to any chemotherapy in escalating doses of 0.12-6.0 micrograms/kg/day as a continuous intravenous infusion. The dose was increased every 14 days until an ANC of > or = 2500/mm3 had been achieved or there was evidence of proliferation of the leukemia. In patients who demonstrated growth of the leukemic clone, cytosine arabinoside was initiated at 200 mg/m2/day for 5 days. Through-out the course of therapy, the effects of filgrastim on maturation and proliferation were assessed by in vitro studies of bone marrow aspirates. Three patients demonstrated a sustained increase in ANC; one achieved a partial remission and remained on therapy for 31 weeks. Two of the three responding patients had hypocellular marrows at the time of initiating filgrastim and demonstrated a low but normal pattern of growth in CFU-GM assay early in the treatment course. This suggested that these two characteristics may define an environment in which filgrastim can induce a growth advantage for the normal residual hematopoietic elements. In this study of selected patients, filgrastim appeared safe.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D000069585:Filgrastim; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D003561:Cytarabine; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000069585:Filgrastim