Klin Farmakol Farm. 2017;31(1):3-10 | DOI: 10.36290/far.2017.002

Lipegfilgrastim, effective option how to avoid chemotherapy-induced neutropenia

Jana Ďurková

Oddelenie rádioterapie a klinickej onkológie, FNsP Nitra

Backround: Toxicity is an integral part of oncological treatment. Serious adverse effects of systemic therapy, which limits its administration is neutropenia. The risk of neutropenia is highly associated with a chemotherapy regimen used, but this risk is also affected by risk profile of patient. Complications of neutropenia are associated with increased morbidity, mortality and financial costs for supportive treatment. Curative intent or poor adherence of planned relative dose intensity (RDI) may adversely affect the overall treatment outcome. Material, methods: The article discusses the own experience on use of long-acting granulocyte colony stimulating growth factors, (G-CSF) pegfilgrastim and lipegfilgrastim. G-CSF when administered to 20 patients with recurrent or metastatic endometrial carcinoma who had received paclitaxel and carboplatin regimen and 20 patients with testicular cancer stage I-III who received BEP regimen. Both groups recieved G-CSF as the primary prevention of febrile neutropenia (FN). Values of neutrophile counts were analyzed on day 1, 8, 21 (D1, 8, 21) in patients with endometrial cacinoma and on day 1, 8, 15 and 21 (D1, 8, 15, 21) in patients with testicular cancer. The patients were divided in two groups in 1 : 1 ratio (50 % received pegfilgrastim and 50 % lipegfilgrastim).

Results: Neither FN or severe G3-4 neutropenia was observed at any patient with testicular cancer. G2 moderate neutropenia was observed in 3 patients only. Two cases were reported in the pegfilgrastim group, in one case chemotherapy treatment must have been posponed. One case of G2 neutropenia was observed in the lipegfilgrastim group. Similarly, there was no occurrence of FN or severe G3-4 neutropenia group of patients with endometrial carcinoma. Delay in treatment due to G2 neutropenia was required only in two cases, for one patient in the lipegfilgrastim group and one patient in the pegfilgrastim group.

Conclusion: Effectiveness of pegfilgrastim and lipegfilgrastim used for the primary prevention of chemotherapy-induced FN and severe neutropenia is comparable and comparable is too toxicity profile of both drugs.

Keywords: neutropenia, pegfilgrastim, lipegfilgrastim, testicular tumors, endometrial carcinoma

Published: May 1, 2017  Show citation