Badalamenti, G., Incorvaia, L., Provenzano, S., Bronte, G., Leto, G., Fulfaro, F., & Maltese, G. (2013). Lenograstim in preventing chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia in patients with soft tissue sarcoma. Anticancer Research, 33, 679–684.
The purpose of the study was to evaluate incidence of febrile neutropenia and grade 4 neutropenia after receiving lenograstim prophylaxis.
All patients received G-CSF prophylaxis with 263 mcg from days 5–9 in patients receiving three cycles of epirubicin and ifosamide for soft tissue sarcoma. Patients were observed for three cycles. Blood counts were done on days 8,15, and 22.
Active antitumor treatment
Observational
There were no episodes of febrile neutropenia. Grade 4 neutropenia was seen in 17% of patients—58% on day 8, 29% on day 15, and 13% on day 22. No treatment delays or dose reductions were required.
G-CSF as given here was effective in preventing the risk of febrile neutropenia and grade 4 neutropenia in patients receiving chemotherapy associated with high risk for these adverse events.
Prophylactic G-CSF reduced risk of febrile neutropenia and grade 4 neutropenia in patients at risk for these problems during chemotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma. The most appropriate timing of prophylactic colony-stimulating factor is not clear. The timing studied here appeared to be effective.