Recombinant human interleukin-3 hastens trilineage hematopoietic recovery following high-dose (7 g/m2) cyclophosphamide cancer therapy.
BACKGROUND
Interleukin-3, a recombinant cytokine with multilineage stimulatory effect on hematopoietic cells, was administered to 22 previously untreated breast cancer patients following high-dose therapy with cyclophosphamide (7 g/m2).


METHODS
The growth factor, administered through continuous intravenous infusion at 1 (3 patients), 2.5 (3 patients), 5 (10 patients) and 10 micrograms/kg/day (6 patients), was well tolerated up to 5 micrograms/kg/day.


RESULTS
Nausea, vomiting, fever and headache prevented administration of the intended dose to all 6 patients in the 10 micrograms/kg/day cohort. At the maximal tolerable dose (5 micrograms/kg/day) the growth factor significantly accelerated granulocyte, platelet and reticulocyte recovery as compared to matched historical controls who received high-dose cyclophosphamide without cytokine infusion. Moreover, no platelet transfusions and fewer erythrocyte transfusions were required in interleukin 3-treated patients. In contrast to GM-CSF and G-CSF, interleukin 3 showed no effect on the mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells in the peripheral blood.


CONCLUSIONS
Interleukin-3 represents a well-tolerated cytokine, clinically useful for accelerating trilineage hematopoietic recovery following severely myelotoxic treatments such as high-dose cyclophosphamide.
Gianni
A M
AM
Cristina Gandini Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
Siena
S
S
Bregni
M
M
Di Nicola
M
M
Peccatori
F
F
Magni
M
M
Ravagnani
F
F
Sklenar
I
I
Bonadonna
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D007377:Interleukin-3; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D003520:Cyclophosphamide