Combined use of erythropoietin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor does not decrease blood transfusion requirements during induction therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in reducing blood transfusion requirements and stimulating hematopoiesis in children with high-risk neuroblastoma.


METHODS
Thirty-eight patients given six cycles of intensive induction chemotherapy for high-risk neuroblastoma were randomized to receive G-CSF (n = 20) or G-CSF + EPO (n = 18). Cytokines were given subcutaneously each day, starting 24 hours after each chemotherapy cycle and continuing until 48 hours before the start of the next cycle. The primary end point was the effect of EPO on total red cell transfusion requirements during induction therapy.


RESULTS
Patients who received G-CSF + EPO had a higher red cell transfusion requirement (median, 161.0 mL/kg) than did those who received G-CSF alone (median, 106.6 mL/kg; P =.005). In addition, among patients given transfusions for hemoglobin < or = 8 g/dL, those in the G-CSF + EPO group received more red cell transfusions than did those given G-CSF alone (median per patient, 10 v 8, respectively; P =.044). The two treatment groups had similar cumulative durations of neutropenia, incidences of febrile neutropenia, platelet transfusion requirements, and numbers of platelet transfusions; they also received induction chemotherapy for similar durations and had similar probabilities of progression-free survival and overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
The addition of EPO to the G-CSF regimen provides no benefit for patients receiving intensive induction chemotherapy for high-risk neuroblastoma.
Wagner
Lars M
LM
Department of Hematology-Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
Billups
Catherine A
CA
Furman
Wayne L
WL
Rao
Bhaskar N
BN
Santana
Victor M
VM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013714:Tennessee
D004921:Erythropoietin; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor