GRANULOCYTE-COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR (G-CSF) PREVENTS DOSE-LIMITING NEUTROPENIA IN LYMPHOMA PATIENTS RECEIVING STANDARD-DOSE CHEMOTHERAPY

In this study, nine patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n=6) and Hod gkin's disease (n=3) receiving different cytotoxic chemotherapy regime ns were given granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (5 mu g/kg /day) from 48 hours after the end of chemotherapy to 48 hours before t he next chemotherapy administration. The decrease in mean absolute neu trophil counts (ANC) and in mean platelet (Plt) counts was not signifi cant when pre-therapy counts were compared with posttherapy ones (p < 0.375 and p > 0.4, respectively). The mean actual dose intensity was 9 2% (range 68-100%). G-CSF treatment after chemotherapy reduces neutrop enia and permits administration of the full chemotherapy program. A wa sh-out period between G-CSF treatment and chemotherapy administration is needed to prevent the detrimental effect of chemotherapy on leukocy te and platelet recovery when repeated cycles of cytotoxic drugs and G -CSF are administered.