USE OF RECOMBINANT GRANULOCYTE-COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR TO TREAT NEUTROPENIA OCCURRING DURING CRANIOSPINAL IRRADIATION

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of recombinant human Granulo cyte-Colony Stimulating Factor, a hematopoietic growth factor which st imulates neutrophil production, in the treatment of neutropenia caused by Craniospinal Irradiation. Methods and Materials: Four consecutive patients who developed neutropenia (neutrophils less than 1.5 x 10(9)/ l in peripheral blood) during craniospinal irradiation for primary int racranial tumors received intermittent subcutaneous injections of Gran ulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor. Two of the patients had medulloblas toma, one had a primitive neuroectodermal tumor and the other a pineal ocytoma. No patient received prior or concurrent chemotherapy. Results : In all cases peripheral blood neutrophil counts returned rapidly to normal levels following Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor injectio ns and treatment delays were therefore avoided. Platelet counts were u naffected by Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor treatment. In one c ase, slight elevation of peripheral blood monocyte and lymphocyte coun ts occurred after each Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor injection . No toxicity was encountered. Conclusion: Our results suggest that Gr anulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor is a safe and effective treatment for neutropenia caused by extended field radiotherapy.