A phase II study of recombinant granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Myelosuppression is often the major limiting factor that prevents timely administration of cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents, particularly in chemoresponsive malignancies. A study was designed to assess the role of GM-CSF in preventing myelosuppression in patients with intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma receiving combination chemotherapy (Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, Prednisone and Epirubicin or Mitozantrone, +/- Bleomycin). A total of 24 patients were entered and data collated from 20 of them are amenable to analysis. All patients received the first chemotherapy cycle without GM-CSF and the second with GM-CSF (250 mg/m2 subcutaneously twice daily for 5 days commencing on the 5th day following chemotherapy). By entering only those patients who had suffered myelosuppression following chemotherapy, an internal control was established. GM-CSF administration significantly reduced the degree of neutropenia and leucopenia. The mean nadir white blood cell (WBC) and absolute neutrophil counts (ANC) were 2.88 x 10(9)/L and 0.97 x 10(9)/L in cycle 1 as compared to 5.95 x 10(9)/L and 2.92 x 10(9)/L respectively, in cycle 2 (p = 0.05 and 0.02, respectively). Eight patients (40%) had febrile neutropenias and 13 patients (65%) experienced a treatment delay by a median of 8 days during cycle 1. Six patients (30%) had febrile neutropenias and 2 patients (10%) had a treatment delay of 3 days during cycle 2. Reversible toxicity was seen in the majority of patients: bone pains (60%), skin rashes (35%), arthralgias (25%), and altered taste sensation (10%). No patient developed the capillary leak syndrome. This study demonstrates the efficacy of GM-CSF in preventing chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression.
Mughal
T I
TI
Department of Medicine, King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
O'Neill
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor