title: Concomitant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and induction chemoradiotherapy in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a randomized phase III trial.
abstract: This prospective multicenter study examined whether simultaneous administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; Filgrastim) and induction chemotherapy for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) could prevent treatment-related neutropenia, infections, and resulting treatment delays. Seventy-six patients were randomly assigned to receive either G-CSF (n = 37) or no growth factor (n = 39) in conjunction with a uniform chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, mercaptopurine, intrathecal methotrexate, and cranial irradiation. The median duration of neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count < 1 x 10(9)/L) during chemotherapy was 8 days in patients receiving C-CSF, compared with 12.5 days in the control group (P < .002). A similar reduction from 11.5 to 7 days was observed in patients with T-ALL receiving additional mediastinal irradiation (P = .13). Infections occurred in 43% and 56% of patients in the G-CSF and control arm, respectively (P = .25); the incidence of nonviral infections was reduced by 50%, from 32 episodes in the control arm to 16 episodes in the G-CSF arm. Prolonged interruptions of chemotherapy administration were less frequent, with delays of 2 weeks or more occurring in only 24% of patients receiving G-CSF as opposed to 46% in the control arm (P = .01). Accordingly, chemotherapy was completed significantly earlier with the use of G-CSF (39 v 44 days, P = .008). With a median follow-up of 20 months, the probability of disease-free survival was 0.45 in the G-CSF group and 0.43 in the control group (P = .34). In conclusion, adult ALL patients appear to benefit by the simultaneous administration of G-CSF with induction chemotherapy because of a significant reduction in the duration of neutropenia, a trend to fewer infections, and a more rapid completion of chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Frankfurt, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: O G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Ottmann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hoelzer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gracien
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganser
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reutzel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lipp
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwonzen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heil
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D000069585:Filgrastim; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017053:Infection Control; D008297:Male; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000517:prevention & control; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D003561:Cytarabine; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D015122:Mercaptopurine; D000069585:Filgrastim; D008727:Methotrexate