title: Equivalence of pegfilgrastim and filgrastim in lymphoma patients treated with BEAM followed by autologous stem cell transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of pegfilgrastim on engraftment, hospital stay and resources in patients with Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after conditioning with high-dose BEAM followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) compared with filgrastim.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed patient charts and our prospective transplantation database for clinical data from the post-transplant period. An integrated cost analysis, including the use of blood products and length of hospital stay, was also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen (26%) patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma and 40 (74%) patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were analyzed. Thirty-four (68%) patients received single-dose pegfilgrastim (6 mg), and 20 (32%) patients received daily filgrastim (5 μg/kg) after APBSCT. No differences were observed regarding duration of neutropenia grade 4 (pegfilgrastim median 7 days/filgrastim median 8 days; p = 0.13), thrombocytopenia grade 4 (7/9.5 days, respectively; p = 0.21), fever (4.5/2 days; p = 0.057), intravenous antibiotic treatment (11/10 days; p = 0.75) or length of hospital stay (16.5/16 days; p = 0.27) between the groups. The use of pegfilgrastim resulted in 12% higher treatment-related costs when compared to filgrastim, without reaching statistical significance (p = 0.38).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pegfilgrastim appears to be equivalent to filgrastim after high-dose BEAM followed by APBSCT in the treatment of lymphoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Samaras
authors.forename: Elefteri M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Buset
authors.forename: Raffaele Daniele
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Siciliano
authors.forename: Sarah R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Haile
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Petrausch
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mischo
authors.forename: Hanspeter
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Honegger
authors.forename: Bernhard C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Pestalozzi
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schanz
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stussi
authors.forename: Rolf A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Stahel
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knuth
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stenner-Liewen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D000069585:Filgrastim; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D011034:Podophyllotoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D003561:Cytarabine; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; C455861:pegfilgrastim; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011034:Podophyllotoxin; D000069585:Filgrastim; D008558:Melphalan; D002330:Carmustine