title: Clinical efficacy of rhIL-11.
abstract: Placebo-controlled clinical trials of recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11, also known as oprelvekin [Neumega]) in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies have demonstrated significant efficacy in preventing postchemotherapy platelet nadirs of < or = 20,000/microL, and reducing the need for platelet transfusions while continuing chemotherapy without dose reductions. The likelihood of requiring a platelet transfusion in rhIL-11-treated patients receiving chemotherapy is approximately 40% lower than the risk for untreated patients. Treatment with rhIL-11 appears to accelerate earlier recovery to platelet counts of 20,000/microL, 50,000/microL, and 100,000/microL, suggesting that patients treated with rhIL-11 are more likely to be able to receive their next chemotherapy cycle in a timely fashion. rhIL-11 shows sustained efficacy over multiple cycles of full-dose chemotherapy. Activity has also been demonstrated in pediatric patients with solid tumors. The use of rhIL-11 in combination with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF, filgrastim [Neupogen]) may also produce a synergistic hematopoietic effect, resulting in earlier neutrophil recovery. The recommended adult dose regimen for rhIL-11 is 50 micrograms/kg administered subcutaneously once daily beginning 6 to 24 hours after the administration of chemotherapy until a postnadir platelet count of > or = 50,000/microL is reached. The recommended pediatric dose of rhIL-11 is 75 micrograms/kg subcutaneously, once daily beginning 6 to 24 hours after the administration of chemotherapy until a postnadir platelet count of > or = 50,000/microL is reached. The administration of rhIL-11 for greater than 21 days has not been studied and therefore is not recommended.
authors.affiliation: US Oncology, Ocala Oncology Center, Florida, USA. craig.reynolds@usoncology.com
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D017370:Interleukin-11 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D017370:Interleukin-11; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; C105308:oprelvekin