PEG-rhG-CSF versus rhG-CSF in supporting neutrophil recovery after induction chemotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia

To compare the efficacy and safety of pegylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (PEG-rhG-CSF) and rhG-CSF in the recovery of neutrophils after induction therapy in ALL patients, PEG-rhG-CSF was injected subcutaneously within 24 ~ 48 h after the end of intravenous infusion of daunorubicin/idarubicin during induction chemotherapy. In rhG-CSF group, patients were given rhG-CSF. The main outcome indexes were the incidence and duration of grade 4 chemotherapy-induced-neutropenia (CIN, ANC less than 0.5 × 10⁹/L), the incidence of severe agranulocytosis (ANC less than 0.2 × 10⁹/L). The incidence of grade 4 CIN in the PEG-rhG-CSF group was significantly lower than that in the rhG-CSF group (P = 0.007). There was no significant difference in the incidence of severe neutrophil deficiency and the median time of neutrophil deficiency in PEG-rhG-CSF group and rhG-CSF group. There was no significant difference in day 28 complete response (CR) rate of bone marrow cytology between the two groups (P = 0.985). Compared with rhG-CSF, PEG-rhG-CSF can reduce the incidence of agranulocytosis after induction chemotherapy in newly diagnosed ALL patients, without affecting the efficacy of chemotherapy. Meanwhile, it can reduce the pain of patients, with good safety and tolerance.