A COMPARISON OF EFFICACY OF SARGRAMOSTIM (YEAST-DERIVED RHUGM-CSF) AND FILGRASTIM (BACTERIA-DERIVED RHUG-CSF) IN THE THERAPEUTIC SETTING OFCHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED MYELOSUPPRESSION

A randomized double-blind, multicenter study in 181 afebrile cancer pa tients with ANC levels <500/mu L receiving myelosuppressive chemothera py was undertaken to compare sargramostim (yeast-derived recombinant h uman granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor RhuGM-CSF) and f ilgrastim (bacteria-derived recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimu lating factor RhuG-CSF) in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced myelo suppression. Patients received daily subcutaneous (SC) injections of e ither agent until ANC levels reached at least 1500/mu L. There was no statistical difference between treatment groups in the mean number of days to reach an ANC of 500/mu L, but the mean number of days to reach ANC levels of 1000/mu L and 1500/mu L was approximately one day less in patients receiving filgrastim. Fewer patients in the sargramostim a rm were hospitalized, and they had a shorter mean length of hospitaliz ation, mean duration of fever and mean duration of IV antibiotic thera py compared with patients who received filgrastim. Both growth factors were well tolerated No patient was readmitted to the hospital after g rowth factor was discontinued. Sargramostim and filgrastim have compar able efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of standard-dose chemo therapy-induced myelosuppression in community practice.