INTERLEUKIN-3 IN THE TREATMENT OF CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED THROMBOCYTOPENIA

We enrolled 19 cancer patients (11 females, 8 males) with thrombocytop enia after standard dose of chemotherapy to receive IL3 10 mg/kg/day s .c. until hematologic recovery. Therapeutic success was obtained in 69 .6% of cycles; a major response in 39.3% and a minor response in 30.3% of cycles. We obtained the best results in case of platelet count <49 ,000/mm(3). The main toxicity was a flu-like syndrome. In two cycles ( 6%) we registered allergic episodes with flushing and lipothymia. In t he 47% of cycles evaluable for toxicity no side effect was registered.