Open AccessHematopoietic Growth Factors in the Management of Anemia and Febrile Neutropenia
Author(s) -
Hartmut Link
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
breast care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.767
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1661-3805
pISSN - 1661-3791
DOI - 10.1159/000497408
Subject(s) - medicine , neutropenia , febrile neutropenia , anemia , chemotherapy , granulocyte colony stimulating factor , hematopoietic growth factor , intensive care medicine , myelodysplastic syndromes , haematopoiesis , stem cell , bone marrow , biology , genetics
Chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) in cancer patients correlates with poor performance status and decreased quality of life. Currently recommended causal therapies are erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (epoetins), iron substitution, or a combination of both. Guidelines recommend considering red blood cell (RBC) transfusions for symptomatic anemia at a hemoglobin (Hb) level of <8 g/dl. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is recommended if the risk of febrile neutropenia (FN) following from the chosen chemotherapy protocol is ≥20%. If a chemotherapy is planned that induces a moderate FN risk (10-20%), the individual overall FN risk should be assessed prior to each chemotherapy cycle, taking into account patient- or tumor-related risk factors. G-CSF is required when risk factors such as age ≥ 65 years, advanced disease or relevant comorbidity, or previous neutropenia complications are present. Neutropenia that required a shift in chemotherapy is also an indication for G-CSF prophylaxis in subsequent cycles, in order to maintain the planned dose intensity. The use of G-CSF improves patient survival and reduces the rate of neutropenia complications.