THE USE OF G-CSF AND GM-CSF IN BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

Bone marrow transplantation is accepted as potentially curative therap y for a variety of patients with hematologic malignancies and other di sorders. The most important causes of morbidity are infections and ble eding secondary to prolonged cytopenias. Granulocyte colony stimulatin g factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) have been shown to potentially enhance bone marrow engraftmen t which has translated into reduced morbidity and mortality. Additiona lly, growth factors such as G-CSF and GM-CSF may increase numbers of c irculating peripheral progenitor cells to serve as the source of ''mar row'' for transplantation. This review summarizes the current availabl e data using G-CSF and GM-CSF in bone marrow transplantation and discu sses potential areas of study with additional cytokines.