CLINICAL-APPLICATION OF HEMATOPOIETIC GROWTH-FACTORS

Hematopoiesis is regulated by more than twenty well characterized fact ors defined as colony stimulating factors, interleukins and cytokines. Some of these factors are currently used, however their potential cli nical usefulness has not been completely explored. Erythropoietin, the first growth factor employed in clinical trials, was initially used t o treat chronic renal failure anemia. At present it has wider clinical applications: a) to stimulate erythropoiesis after chemotherapy and b one marrow transplantation; b) in some lymphoproliferative disorders s uch as multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia; c) in chroni c disease anemia (tumors, AIDS); d) in autologous blood collection pro grams. Also, G-CSF and GM-CSF have several clinical applications: a) t o accelerate hematological recovery after chemotherapy; b) to improve peripheral blood progenitor cell harvest; c) to increase the efficacy of cytotoxic drugs by recruitment of resting leukemic cells. Experimen tal trials are in progress to evaluate the possible clinical applicati on of other growth factors (Fund. Clin. Immunol. 2: 107-111, 1994).