Low incidence of neutropenic events in patients with lymphoma receiving first-cycle pegfilgrastim with chemotherapy: results from a prospective community-based study.
BACKGROUND
Most alterations to chemotherapy dose and schedule are because of neutropenic events, which mainly occur in the first chemotherapy cycle. This prospective, community-based study evaluated the effectiveness of pegfilgrastim in patients with lymphoma who were also receiving chemotherapy.


METHODS
Patients aged > or = 18 years with cancer other than leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes were eligible, including patients with major comorbidities who were generally not eligible for most clinical trials. Key exclusions were weekly chemotherapy and concurrent radiation therapy. Patients received pegfilgrastim 6 mg approximately 24 hours after chemotherapy in each cycle (up to 8 cycles). Endpoints included neutropenic complications and serious adverse events.


RESULTS
This open-label single-arm study enrolled 2249 patients at 319 sites. Of these 2249 patients, 325 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and 46 patients with Hodgkin disease were included in the primary analysis set. The median age was 65 years for patients with NHL and 41 years for patients with Hodgkin disease, and 31% and 26% had major comorbidities, respectively. Few patients experienced neutropenic complications, including grade 4 febrile neutropenia (patients with Hodgkin disease: 0 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0-8%]; patients with NHL: 13% [95% CI, 10%-17%]); febrile neutropenia-related hospitalization (patients with Hodgkin disease: 0 [95% CI, 0-8%]; patients with NHL: 10% [95% CI, 7%-14%]), neutropenia-related dose reduction (patients with Hodgkin disease: 0 [95% CI, 0-8%]; patients with NHL: 5% [95% CI, 3%-8%]), and neutropenia-related dose delay (patients with Hodgkin disease: 0 [95% CI, 0-8%]; patients with NHL: 5% [95% CI, 3%-8%]). Serious adverse events were consistent with those observed in patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with lymphoma receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy supported by pegfilgrastim experienced few neutropenic complications or neutropenia-related alterations in chemotherapy dose and schedule.
Noga
Stephen J
SJ
Department of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Alvin and Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute, 2401 W. Belvedere Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215, USA. snoga@lifebridgehealth.org
Choksi
Janak K
JK
Ding
Beiying
B
Dreiling
Lyndah
L
Ozer
Howard
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D000069585:Filgrastim; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; C455861:pegfilgrastim; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000069585:Filgrastim