Em. Hartenbach et al., A NOVEL STRATEGY USING G-CSF TO SUPPORT EMA CO FOR HIGH-RISK GESTATIONAL TROPHOBLASTIC DISEASE, Gynecologic oncology, 56(1), 1995, pp. 105-108
EMA/CO (etoposide-methotrexate-actinomycin D and Cytoxan-Oncovin) is a
n effective and well-tolerated chemotherapy regimen for the treatment
of high-risk gestational trophoblastic disease. However, it is associa
ted with significant neutropenia often requiring dose reductions and t
reatment delays. We describe the use of granulocyte colony-stimulating
factor (G-CSF) in three patients in order to maintain the treatment s
chedule. A subcutaneous injection of 5 mug/kg/day was administered on
Days 3-6 and 9-14 of each chemotherapy cycle. No patients had any adve
rse effects and all received full chemotherapy doses without any treat
ment delay. The addition of G-CSF to the EMA/CO regimen may benefit pa
tients by achieving dose intensity in the treatment of high-risk gesta
tional trophoblastic disease. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.