title: Recombinant granulocyte-colony stimulating factor as treatment for poor prognosis oligoblastic acute myeloid leukemia in elderly patients.
abstract: Twenty-five elderly patients with oligoblastic acute myeloid leukemia (AML) received subcutaneous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (filgrastim) in addition to supportive care. Ninety-two percent of the patients had multilineage dysplasia, 17% hypoplasia, and 48% a high-risk karyotype. During filgrastim treatment neutrophil and platelet counts increased significantly (p<0.0001 and (p=0.042), respectively) and 3/13 patients (23%) no longer required transfusions. A complete peripheral hematologic response (CHR) was obtained in eight (32%) and marrow blast cell clearance (<5%) in five patients (20%), lasting 12 and 10 months, respectively. Filgrastim caused osteomyalgia and fever in 20% of cases. The median survival was 8 months overall, and 15 months in patients who achieved a CHR. Filgrastim may be a useful adjunct to supportive care in elderly patients with poor-risk AML.
authors.affiliation: Divisione Ematologia, Spedali Civili P. le Spedali Civili, 1 25123 Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pelizzari
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drera
authors.forename: Mariella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Adda
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ungari
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marocolo
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Facchetti
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bellotti
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barlati
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D000069585:Filgrastim; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007621:Karyotyping; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000069585:Filgrastim