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Palifermin improves severe mucositis, swallowing problems, nutrition impact symptoms, and length of stay in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

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Abstract

Goal of work

The aim of this study was to compare palifermin, a recombinant form of human keratinocyte growth factor, with standard treatment on outcomes in patients receiving a high dose of chemotherapy conditioning regimen, undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Materials and methods

Over a 1-year period, a series of 59 patients were included: 32 patients (palifermin) were compared with 27 patients (standard treatment). Outcomes assessed at day 8 posttransplantation were mucositis, swallowing, nutrition impact symptoms, dietary intake, time to engraftment, length of stay, infection, and cumulative dose and duration of narcotic administration.

Main results

There was a significant reduction in the incidence of severe oral mucositis (13 vs 48%, p=0.003), swallowing problems (p=0.044), number of nutrition impact symptoms experienced (4.9 vs 6.0, p=0.003), and length of stay (14 vs 18 days, p=0.026) in the palifermin group compared to standard care. There was no significant difference in infection, dietary intake, time to engraftment or cumulative dose and duration of narcotic administration between groups.

Conclusions

Beneficial outcomes were observed from the use of palifermin in patients undergoing HSCT after a high dose of chemotherapy conditioning regimen. A randomized clinical trial is needed to confirm these results.

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Acknowledgment

Thank you to AMGEN for the supply of palifermin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Wesley Hospital, Toowong, Queensland, 4066, Australia

    Pamela Horsley & Judith D. Bauer

  2. The Wesley Research Institute, P.O. Box 499, Toowong, Queensland, 4066, Australia

    Pamela Horsley & Judith D. Bauer

  3. School of Public Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4066, Australia

    Judith D. Bauer & Rachael Mazkowiack

  4. Haematology and Oncology Clinics of Australasia, Toowong, Queensland, 4066, Australia

    Raeina Gardner & John Bashford

Authors
  1. Pamela Horsley
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  2. Judith D. Bauer
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  3. Rachael Mazkowiack
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  4. Raeina Gardner
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  5. John Bashford
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Judith D. Bauer.

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Horsley, P., Bauer, J.D., Mazkowiack, R. et al. Palifermin improves severe mucositis, swallowing problems, nutrition impact symptoms, and length of stay in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Support Care Cancer 15, 105–109 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0105-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0105-y

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