title: Prolonged progression-free survival in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia receiving granulocyte colony-stimulating factor during treatment with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab.
abstract: The clinical benefit of the addition of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to standard immunochemotherapy of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) is still unclear. In this retrospective study we analyzed the outcome of 32 consecutive patients with CLL during treatment with FCR. Sixteen patients received G-CSF for treatment of CTC grade 3 or 4 neutropenia or febrile neutropenia at some point during therapy and 16 did not. Both groups were well balanced for clinical and biological risk factors. Overall response rates were not significantly different (94% vs. 75%; p=0.144). Interestingly, a significantly better progression-free survival (100% vs. 35.4% at 24 months; p<0.001) and even overall survival (100% vs. 77.8% at 24 months; p=0.022) was observed in patients receiving G-CSF. While the underlying cause remains to be elucidated, these data strongly suggest an association of the addition of G-CSF to FCR therapy with final patient outcome.
authors: Department of Medicine I, Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Michaela
authors: M
authors: Gruber
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Fleiss
authors: Edit
authors: E
authors: Porpaczy
authors: Cathrin
authors: C
authors: Skrabs
authors: Alexander W
authors: AW
authors: Hauswirth
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Gaiger
authors: Katrina
authors: K
authors: Vanura
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Heintel
authors: Medhat
authors: M
authors: Shehata
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Einberger
authors: Renate
authors: R
authors: Thalhammer
authors: Christa
authors: C
authors: Fonatsch
authors: Ulrich
authors: U
authors: Jäger