Secondary Prophylactic G-CSF (Filgrastim) Administration in Chemotherapy of Stage I and II Hodgkin's Lymphoma with ABVD

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (filgrastim, G-CSF) for maintenance of chemotherapy dose-intensity in patients with stage I or II Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with six cycles of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD). Fifty-six patients with stage I or II Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with ABVD were eligible for secondary prophylactic G-CSF administration because of neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count < 1 x 10(9) /L) causing treatment delay or febrile neutropenia. Patients received 300 microg (total dose) of G-CSF (filgrastim) subcutaneously on days 3 to 7 and 17 to 21 of each cycle in order to prevent dose reduction or delay in subsequent cycles of treatment continuing the G-CSF until completion of chemotherapy. Results showed that 30 (54%) of the patients required the use of G-CSF, 26 (47%) during the first or second cycle. After G-CSF administration delay in chemotherapy did not occur in 25 patients, whereas delays in the fifth or sixth cycle occurred in four patients. Despite treatment with G-CSF, one patient had febrile neutropenia. Dose intensity greater than 90% of that planned was delivered to more the 85% of patients. IN CONCLUSION: Secondary prophylactic G-CSF administration was necessary in more than half of patients with stage I or II Hodgkin's lymphoma during chemotherapy with ABVD. The use of G-CSF allowed maintenance of chemotherapy schedule and dose intensity in the majority of patients.