title: Shifting guidelines for myeloid growth factors: applications in cancer chemotherapy.
abstract: Neutropenia is a frequent dose-limiting complication of chemotherapy. Although myeloid growth factors decrease the risk of febrile neutropenia and the resulting complications of hospitalizations, dose delays, and dose reductions, not all patients need or benefit from the prophylactic administration of myeloid growth factors. A recent risk model showed that the predictors of febrile neutropenia include anthracycline use, poor performance status, and low pretreatment blood counts. These predictors may be used in addition to the intensity of the chosen chemotherapy regimen to determine whether a patient warrants primary prophylaxis with myeloid growth factors. The 2005 guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network call for primary prophylactic use in all patients with a risk of febrile neutropenia above 20%. Other recent studies show that pegylated filgrastim is also effective at preventing febrile neutropenia in patients receiving intermediate- risk chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3476, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Davey B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crawford
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors