Although multi-agent chemotherapy regimens have increased the cure rate of most malignancies, this success has frequently been accompanied by an increased risk of potentially life-threatening hematologic toxicities and infectious complications. The use of hematologic growth factors such as the Colony Stimulating Factors (G-CSF / GM-CSF) reduces the incidence of myelosuppression following intravenous chemotherapy. The purpose of this study is to assess whether (G-CSF / GM-CSF administered concurrently with chemotherapeutic agents reduce the incidence of myelotoxicity. This would decrease the incidence of infectious complications and the use of antibiotics, length of hospital stay, the over all cost, and delay in the administration of succeeding chemotherapy. This is a one year prospective clinical trial and cost-effectivity study designed to include cancer patients admitted at the Makati Medical Center for intravenous chemotherapy. There were 180 patients eligible for the study as described by the criteria. The results showed that 100% of the control group had a decrease in the level of myelocytes, 75% of the G-CSF group had an increase in the level of myelocytes and 85% of the GM-CSF group had an increase in the level of myelocytes and platelet count after intravenous chemotherapy. The conclusion of the study is that the prophylactic use of Colony Stimulating Factors is needed in subsequent cycles of chemotherapy in patients with history of myelosuppression during their previous chemotherapy, thereby reducing the over-all cost and length of hospital stay.

Makati Medical Center Proceedings, 1999 (13) pages 11-19