Endogenous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) levels in chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and in neutropenia related with primary diseases

J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2002 Dec;21(4):475-9.

Abstract

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) are being administered to patients with neutropenia. However, little is known about the endogenous levels of both factors in these patients. We measured the endogenous G-CSF levels in patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (n=15, study group A), in patients who had not received chemotherapy with neutropenia caused by a number of primary diseases (n=14, study group B) and in healthy volunteers (n=15, control group). Both the study groups and the control group did not show any clinical or laboratory findings of infection. The G-CSF levels were elevated in patients following chemotherapy and in patients who had neutropenia without chemotherapy, but the mean G-CSF levels in patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia were significantly higher than in patients with primary diseases. The levels of endogenous G-CSF were also higher in both neutropenic groups, compared to the control group. In conclusion, endogenous G-CSF levels in chemotherapy-induced neutropenia were significantly higher than non-chemotherapy related neutropenia and controls. This may be explained as G-CSF synthesizing bone marrow stromal cells may be more affected in primary disease related neutropenia than in chemotherapy induced neutropenia.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / blood*
  • Hemoglobins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutropenia / blood
  • Neutropenia / chemically induced*
  • Neutropenia / etiology
  • Platelet Count
  • Reference Values

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Hemoglobins
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor