Comparison of pegfilgrastim on day 2 vs. day 4 as primary prophylaxis of intense dose-dense chemotherapy in patients with node-positive primary breast cancer within the prospective, multi-center GAIN study: (GBG 33).
BACKGROUND
Preliminary data suggest that pegfilgrastim given on day 4 (P4) might be superior to pegfilgrastim on day 2 (P2) in reducing grade 4 leucopenia.


METHODS
Patients with node-positive primary breast cancer receiving epirubicin-paclitaxel-cyclophosphamide chemotherapy were randomized to receive P2 versus P4. Primary endpoint was leucopenia grade 4, assuming a risk reduction of 50% with P4 from 50% in P2 to 25% with P4.


RESULTS
Three-hundred fifty-one patients were randomized to P2 (n = 174) versus P4 (n = 177). The rate of leucopenia (grade 4) was 47.1% with P2 and 42.0% with P4 (p = 0.387), neutropenia (grade 3 + 4) was 47.9% versus 40.8% (p = 0.337), FN was 4.7% versus 8.0% (p = 0.271), and infections was 29.9% versus 25.4% (p = 0.404), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This study failed to demonstrate that pegfilgrastim on day 4 was more efficacious than on day 2 with respect to grade 4 leucopenia (the primary endpoint), febrile neutropenia, or infections.
German Breast Group, Neu-Isenburg, Germany. sibylle.Loibl@germanbreastgroup.de
Sibylle
S
Loibl
Volkmar
V
Mueller
Gunter
G
von Minckwitz
Bettina
B
Conrad
Claus-Henning
CH
Koehne
Stephan
S
Kremers
Helmut
H
Forstbauer
Mattea
M
Linder
Valentina
V
Nekljudova
Volker
V
Moebus
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000517:prevention & control; D000069585:Filgrastim; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; C455861:pegfilgrastim; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D015251:Epirubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D017239:Paclitaxel; D000069585:Filgrastim