title: GM-CSF instead of hematological support during high-dose chemotherapy for refractory malignant lymphoma.
abstract: Patients with refractory malignant lymphoma (RML) have a poor prognosis when treated with conventional chemotherapy. The use of high-dose chemotherapy has been limited by secondary myelosuppression. We report the use of intensive and short-duration chemotherapy in patients with RML who received granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) instead of hematological support and salvage with bone marrow transplantation or infusion of peripheral blood stem cells. Thirty-one patients with RML were treated with cyclophosphamide: 7 g/m2, iv on day 1, followed by GM-CSF: 5 micrograms/kg/day, subcutaneously until hematological recovery (granulocytes > 1.8 x 10(9)/L) started on day 2. Methotrexate, 5 g/m2, was also given when the granulocytes and platelets counts were normal, followed by leucovorin rescue. Epirubicin, 180 mg/m2, iv, was given on day 29 if the granulocyte count was normal, and GM-CSF was started on day 30. Complete response was obtained in 21 out of 31 patients (67%) and partial response in 4 more, thus an overall response was achieved in 80% of the treated patients. Time to treatment failure was 24+ months, and the overall survival was 28+ months. Hematological toxicity grade IV, according to the WHO criteria was observed in all cycles, however hematological recovery was already evident on day 13 +/- 2. Eleven patients developed infection related to the treatment, but no therapy related death was observed. GM-CSF was well tolerated with minimal toxicity. Is evident that GM-CSF can act as hematological support after high-dose chemotherapy in patients who cannot undergo bone marrow transplantation programs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology Hospital, National Medical Center México, D.F. Mexico.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avilés
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Nambo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talavera
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosas
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Díaz-Maqueo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017713:Platelet Transfusion; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D003520:Cyclophosphamide