BMC Cancer (Nov 2024)

Exploring optimal administration timing of pegylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in early breast cancer treated with pharmorubicin and endoxan: a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial

  • Yinggang Xu,
  • Lifeng Huang,
  • Jue Wang,
  • Jinzhi He,
  • Ye Wang,
  • Weiwei Zhang,
  • Rui Chen,
  • Xiaofeng Huang,
  • Jin Liu,
  • Xinyu Wan,
  • Wenjie Shi,
  • Lu Xu,
  • Xiaoming Zha

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-13156-y
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Abstract Background Pegylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (PEG-rhG-CSF) is a treatment for preventing febrile neutropenia (FN) in patients with early breast cancer. However, the optimal injection timing of PEG-rhG-CSF after chemotherapy is obscure. The trial was designed to explore the best administration timing of PEG-rhG-CSF when breast cancer patients could benefit most. Methods Patients with early breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive a preventive injection on the 7th or 3rd day following chemotherapy. The experimental group (n = 80) received PEG-rhG-CSF treatment on day 7 after chemotherapy, whereas the control group (n = 80) received it on day 3. The occurrence of grades 3–4 neutropenia and FN in the first cycle was the primary endpoint. The secondary endpoint was the frequency of PEG-rhG-CSF dose reduction. Results In comparison to the control group, the experimental group exhibited higher white blood cell count (WBC) and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) on the 9th and 13th days following chemotherapy (P < 0.05). Additionally, the incidence of grade 3–4 neutropenia was significantly lower in the experimental group (P = 0.038). Furthermore, a greater proportion of patients in the experimental group met the criteria for reducing the PEG-rhG-CSF dose compared to the control group (69.74% vs. 35.06%, P < 0.001). Conclusions In comparison with PEG-rhG-CSF injection on day 3 after chemotherapy, the incidence of grade 3–4 myelosuppression is lower, and the safety is more manageable after the injection on day 7. This approach potentially allows for a wider adoption of PEG-rhG-CSF dose reduction, leading to a consequential decrease in overall medical costs for patients. Trial registration Clinical Trials: NCT04477616. Registered July 16, 2020.

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