Background: The efficacy of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in reducing neutropenia and its associated complications in adults with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) undergoing intensive chemotherapy in first remission was evaluated.
Methods: Fourteen adult patients with ALL in first remission received intensive chemotherapy consisting of mitoxantrone 5 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) over 1 hour daily for 3 days, cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) 3 g/m2 IV over 2 hours every 12 hours x 4 on days 1 and 2, vincristine 2 mg IV on day 1, solumedrol 50 mg IV twice daily for 5 days, and G-CSF 5 micrograms/kg subcutaneously daily starting on day 4 until granulocyte recovery. Their outcome was compared with that of 14 consecutive patients who received the same intensification chemotherapy, but without G-CSF. The latter patients had been entered on the same ALL protocol from April 1990 through June 1991.
Results: G-CSF administration was associated with a significant shortening in the duration of neutropenia. The number of days to granulocyte recovery above 0.5 x 10(3)/microliters was 14 in the G-CSF group versus 18 days in the historical group (P < 0.001). Two episodes of documented infections were observed in the G-CSF group compared with four episodes in the historical group. Death during intensification therapy occurred in 2 of 14 patients in the historical group, but in none of the 14 patients receiving G-CSF.
Conclusions: G-CSF as an adjunct to intensive chemotherapy in adults with ALL in first remission yielded positive results. Future studies incorporating growth factors supportive care during remission, induction, and consolidation may reduce treatment-related morbidity and mortality, increase the dose-intensity delivery of therapy, and potentially improve patient outcome.