Recombinant human interleukin‐3 administered concomitantly with chemotherapy in patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Although recombinant human interleukin-3 (rhIL-3) shortens both the duration of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, its effect on nadir counts is limited. Concurrent administration of rhIL-3 and chemotherapy may enhance this effect. However, simultaneous administration of other hematopoietic growth factors and chemotherapy has resulted in enhanced myelosuppression. We investigated whether concomitant administration of rhIL-3 and chemotherapy would result in enhanced myelosuppression. Twelve patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer received vincristine, ifosfamide, mesna, and carboplatin on day 1 every four weeks. RhIL-3 was administered subcutaneously on days 1-14 during cycle 1 at doses of 4 (three patients) or 8 micrograms/kg/day (nine patients). During cycle 2 patients received only chemotherapy. No significant difference in leukocyte (1.4 +/- 1.0 vs. 0.9 +/- 0.4 x 10(9)/l (mean +/- SD), neutrophil (0.5 +/- 0.6 vs. 0.2 +/- 0.2 x 10(9)/l), and platelet (64 +/- 60 vs. 38 +/- 58 x 10(9)/l) nadir counts were demonstrated. The hemoglobin nadir level was significantly higher during cycle 1 (6.5 +/- 1.1 vs. 5.5 +/- 0.9 mmol/l, P = 0.05). Both leukocyte and platelet recovery were significantly enhanced in the rhIL-3 cycle. There was no significant difference in chemotherapy postponement or platelet transfusions. As a result of severe headaches, rhIL-3 administration was discontinued in one patient at 8 micrograms. RhIL-3 during this chemotherapy regimen for relapsed small cell lung cancer did not enhance myelotoxicity but did improve bone marrow recovery. This observation may increase the application of rhIL-3, for instance in combination with other hematopoietic growth factors.