title: Optimising management of neutropenia and anaemia in cancer chemotherapy-advances in cytokine therapy.
abstract: Neutropenia and anaemia are serious complications of myelosuppressive chemotherapy. They have a negative impact on patient quality of life and may reduce response to treatment. Febrile neutropenia, a potentially life-threatening complication of neutropenia, frequently requires hospital admission, while fatigue and weakness from anaemia reduce patient's capacity for activity. Pegfilgrastim and darbepoetin alfa, were designed to simplify and optimise treatment for patients with cancer. Once-per-cycle pegfilgrastim is as effective as daily filgrastim with respect to duration of severe neutropenia (DSN) and may have a lower incidence of febrile neutropenia than filgrastim. Darbepoetin alfa has enhanced biological activity and a serum terminal half-life three-fold longer than that of erythropoietin (EPO), which translates into rapid and sustained correction of anaemia with less frequent dosing. These novel cytokines have the potential to simplify the management of neutropenia and anaemia with fewer injections and less disruption to patients daily lives.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Oncologia ad Ematologia, Ospedale Niguarda Ca'Granda, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore 3, I-20162 Milan, Italy. salvatore.siena@ospedaleniguarda.it
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siena
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Secondino
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giannetta
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Carminati
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pedrazzoli
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors