Klin Onkol 2003; 16(4): 161-167.
Summary: Clinical trials of filgrastim and other colony-stimulating factors have been conducted for over 10 years. These agents were hypothesized to reduce rates of infection in the initial weeks after administration of chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukaemia patients. Large randomized trials has reported that a decrease in infection occurs as a result. The second major use of filgrastim has been in priming acute myeloid leukaemia blasts to the cytotoxic actions of chemotherapy. Filgrastim has been administered before and during chemotherapy with the aim to increase the number of leukaemic blasts in cell cycle and enhance their responsiveness to chemotherapy. The results of several randomized trials do not justify application of this strategy. In acute myeloid leukaemia patients, filgrastim is successfully used in peripheral blood stem cells mobilisation as well. Filgrastim administration is safe in acute myeloid leukaemia patients.
