Administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor during remission induction therapy with all-trans retinoic acid for acute promyelocytic leukemia.
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) enhances the differentiation of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells induced by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in vitro. Accordingly, we initiated a pilot study on G-CSF in APL patients who developed neutropenia and severe infection during remission induction therapy with ATRA. Seven out of nine treated patients displayed a marked increase in granulocyte counts without leukemic regrowth, and two displayed a dramatic decrease in leukemic blasts. However, leukemic regrowth occurred in two patients under treatment for post-ATRA relapse. Our findings suggest that administration of G-CSF combined with ATRA can improve the hematological state in APL patients not previously receiving ATRA therapy.
Usuki
K
K
Division of Hematology, Kanto Teishin Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Nishizawa
Y
Y
Endo
M
M
Osawa
M
M
Kitazume
K
K
Iki
S
S
Watanabe
M
M
Urabe
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D014212:Tretinoin