title: Primary prophylaxis with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) reduces the incidence of febrile neutropenia in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) receiving CHOP chemotherapy treatment without adversely affecting their quality of life: cost-benefit and quality of life analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin and prednisone (CHOP) is known to be associated with a significant risk of febrile neutropenia (FN) of up to 50% [Osby et al. 2003 Blood 101(10): 3840-3848; Lyman and Delgado 2003 Cancer 98(11): 2402-2409]. This study sought to examine the impact of primary granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) prophylaxis on the incidence of FN, quality of life and overall cost.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective cohort study, a group of 65 consecutive patients who received CHOP chemotherapy for NHL between December 2006 and October 2009 was studied. Patients either received filgrastim (300 mcg, average of seven doses), pegylated filgrastim (6 mg, single dose), or no GCSF prophylaxis. In addition, 19 patients were asked to complete Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy: General quality-of-life questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, patients who received primary GCSF prophylaxis had significantly fewer FN compared to those who did not (5 vs. 60%, p < 0.0001; numbers needed to treat of 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-2.9). Cost-benefit analysis showed that the GCSF prophylaxis was associated with only a small increase in direct financial cost ($238 NZD [US$189] more to give primary GCSF prophylaxis per patient vs. no prophylaxis). The quality of life assessment showed that the patients' quality of life scores were similar to the published data from the validation study population (466 patients with mixed cancers) for Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that primary GCSF prophylaxis is effective in preventing FN in patients receiving CHOP chemotherapy for NHL without adversely affecting their quality of life, and is cost effective.
authors.affiliation: Haematology Department, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. s_lee40@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.forename: Irene S L
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Christin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coomarasamy
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Blacklock
authors.forename: Samar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Issa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000069585:Filgrastim; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014750:Vincristine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; C455861:pegfilgrastim; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D000069585:Filgrastim; D011241:Prednisone