Pegfilgrastim administered in a single fixed dose is effective in inducing neutrophil count recovery after paclitaxel and topotecan chemotherapy in patients with relapsed aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Abstract

Pegfilgrastim is a pegylated form of a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor with a long half-life allowing for a single administration per chemotherapy cycle. The efficacy of a single dose of pegfilgrastim in supporting severely myelosuppressive regimens in previously treated cancer patients is unknown. Patients included in the present study had recurrent or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), had received two to three prior treatment regimens, and had good performance status and marrow reserve. Patients received intravenous paclitaxel 200 mg/m(2) on day 1 and topotecan 1 mg/m(2) daily for 5 days, repeated every 21 days for at least two cycles. On day 6, patients were given a single fixed dose of pegfilgrastim (6 mg) subcutaneously. Twenty patients were evaluable for analysis. After the first course of therapy, grade 4 neutropenia developed in all 20 patients. The median time to the neutrophil nadir was 9 days. The mean +/- SD duration of grade 4 neutropenia was 3.8 +/- 1.7 days. Nineteen (95%) patients received cycle 2 on time, on day 22. Five patients developed neutropenic fever (25%), which was associated with infection in one patient. In these previously treated patients with NHL, a single dose of pegfilgrastim was effective in promoting neutrophil count recovery after paclitaxel and topotecan, and allowed patients to receive the next planned dose on time.

• Authors: Barbara Pro, Luis Fayad, Peter McLaughlin, Jorge Romaguera, Fredrick B Hagemeister, Maria A Rodriguez, Andre Goy, Evelyn Loyer, Anas Younes
• Journal: Leukemia & lymphoma (Leuk Lymphoma) Vol. 47 Issue 3 Pg. 481-5 (Mar 2006) ISSN: 1042-8194 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16396772 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Recombinant Proteins
• Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
• pegfilgrastim
• Polyethylene Glycols
• Topotecan
• Paclitaxel
• Filgrastim

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Filgrastim
• Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Injections, Intravenous
• Injections, Subcutaneous
• Leukocyte Count
• Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin (drug therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neutrophils (drug effects)
• Paclitaxel (administration & dosage)
• Polyethylene Glycols
• Recombinant Proteins
• Recurrence
• Topotecan (administration & dosage)
• Treatment Outcome