THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF HEMATOPOIETIC CYTOKINES IN CLINICAL-PRACTICE

Hematologic toxicities can be a major problem in the delivery of some chemotherapy regimens. The way clinicians manage myelosuppression has evolved from a symptomatic approach to the use of cytokines to amelior ate or prevent anemia and neutropenia. Soon, new cytokines will be com mercially available to manage thrombocytopenia. Cytokines are transfor ming oncology by permitting dose intensification through delivery of c hemotherapy at the full dose and on time, as well as permitting high-d ose chemotherapy. Clinical trials are also exploring the benefits of c ytokines for myeloablative chemotherapy with cellular support (bone ma rrow transplantation or peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantati on). Future applications of cytokines include ex vivo expansion and ge ne transfer therapy. For cancer patients, the ability to receive inten sive doses of chemotherapy might mean improved survival rates.