Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Dear Editor,
Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a serious side effect of chemotherapy, and even when it does not result in significant morbidity, mortality, and costs, it normally leads to a delay in subsequent chemotherapy treatments [1]. Suboptimal delivery of chemotherapy and reduced relative dose intensity (RDI) adversely affects long-term cancer outcome and survival [2]. FN is a surrogate marker for infections during chemotherapy and is characterized by an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <1000/mmc and a single body temperature of >38.3 °C or a sustained temperature of ≥38 °C for more than 1 h [1, 3]. Risk of FN is dependent on both patient-specific factors (e.g., type of cancer, disease stage, co-morbid conditions, and age) and the myelotoxicity of the chemotherapy regimen. Once an episode of FN occurs, the risk of FN increases in subsequent chemotherapy cycles [4].
Recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) have been developed to stimulate proliferation and differentiation of neutrophils in patients receiving chemotherapy.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommend the use of G-CSF as primary prophylaxis (PP) when the overall FN risk is greater than 20 % following myelosuppressive chemotherapy, and secondary prophylaxis (SP) following FN or a dose-limiting neutropenic events [4, 5].
Pegfilgrastim is a pegylated long-acting recombinant form of G-CSF which extends the half-life, requiring less frequent dosing than non-pegylated G-CSF [6]. It is indicated to decrease the incidence of infection, as manifested by FN, in patients with non-myeloid malignancies receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy associated with a clinically significant incidence of FN [5]. Pegfilgrastim is cleared via a neutrophil-mediated system and requires only a single dose administered subcutaneously once per chemotherapy cycle [6–8].
Multiple myeloma (MM) in advanced phases of disease may be managed by regimens combining agents not frequently employed in early phases of treatment (e.g., anthracyclines, alkylating agents, etc), which have significant myelotoxicity. Bendamustine is a bifunctional alkylating agent that produces both single and double strand breaks in DNA, which has shown good results in association with bortezomib and dexamethasone in heavily pretreated patients [9], but in this schedule myelotoxicity is the main expected side effect [10]. In this context, G-CSFs are often necessary to warrant an effective treatment, counteracting the risks of febrile neutropenia. Their use is bound to frequent evaluation of neutrophil counts which may not be easily performed by patients in home care. Avoiding severe neutropenia by prophylactic long-acting G-CSF, as pegfilgrastim, seems particularly useful in this setting of patients.
The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pegfilgrastim in relapsed and refractory MM patients, in treatment with courses of bendamustine-bortezomib-dexamethasone (BVD), in order to determine whether primary prophylaxis with pegfilgrastim is more effective than that with filgrastim [6, 11–13] in terms of incidence of chemotherapy disruptions due to FN, days of hospitalization, and G-CSF-related extra-hematological side effects.
Methods
From December 2012 to February 2016, 47 patients have been considered (25 male and 22 female) with a median age of 61.3 years (range 37–83) affected by relapsed and refractory MM, treated with several lines of treatments (median 6, r. 2–11), and refractory to the drugs previously received, who were treated with monthly courses of BVD (bendamustine 90 mg/sqm i.v. days 1 and 2; bortezomib 1 mg/sqm s.c. days 1, 4, 8, and 11; and dexamethasone 20 mg per os days 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, and 12, until progression).
All treatments were performed in our outpatient unit. Twenty-four consecutive patients received pegfilgrastim (6 mg) subcutaneously with a single administration on day +4, as primary prophlyaxis, and they were compared to a historical group of twenty-three consecutive patients in which filgrastim (5 μg/kg/day for at least 3 days) had been given, as primary prophylaxis “on demand,” if neutrophils count was <1000 × 109 cells/L.
All patients performed blood counts twice weekly and received, from day +8 to day +19, considering “day +1” the day in which the chemotherapy protocol starts, prophylactic oral quinolones and anti-fungal drugs.
Results
In filgrastim group, twenty-three consecutive patients, previously treated with several lines of treatments (median 6, r. 3–11) with a median age of 60.7 years (r. 37–78) have been considered. Nadir neutropenia was registered after a median of 9.1 days (r.8–15), with maximum duration of 13 days (median 9.4 days, r. 7–13); median of nadir neutrophil count was 1.15 × 109 cells/L (range 0.3–1.5 × 109 cells/L). Median number of filgrastim administrations was 4.2 (r. 3–6). Patients have been evaluated after at least three courses of therapy (r. 3–6). Filgrastim was well tolerated in all patients; main side effects were mild fever and bone pain (6/23, 26 %), treated successfully with paracetamol. Three hospitalizations for pneumonia were needed during filgrastim (median days of hospitalization 15, range 8–19); the patients received intravenous antibiotic treatment with resolution of infectious episodes. Four patients (4/23, 17.3 %) disrupted chemotherapy schedules because of neutropenia.
In pegfilgrastim group, twenty-four consecutive patients, previously treated with several lines of treatments (median 6, r. 2–10) with a median age of 62.1 years (r. 43–83) have been considered. Nadir neutropenia, registered at day +11, was 1.484 × 109 cells/L (range 1.04–2.33 × 109 cells/L). During pegfilgrastim, neutropenia, when present, was shorter than during filgrastim treatment, never longer than 8 days (median 5.9 days, r. 4–8), with a consequent reduction of neutropenia-related infections. Only four patients (16.6 %) needed, after pegfilgrastim, a supplement of three administrations of filgrastim. Patients have been evaluated after at least three courses of therapy (r. 3–6). Apart from the advantage of mono-administration, pegfilgrastim was well tolerated in all patients; main side effects were mild fever and bone pain (3/24, 12.5 %), treated successfully with paracetamol. Moreover, no hospitalization was needed during pegfilgrastim. Only two patients (2/24, 8.3 %) disrupted chemotherapy schedules because of neutropenia.
In Italy, the cost of filgrastim 30-MU vial is 95.18–127.95 euro (depending from producer), while the cost of pegfilgrastim 6 mg is 1.489.50 euro. However, this cost has to be considered together with that of hospitalizations, antibiotic usage, and disruptions of scheduled chemotherapy treatments.
Thus, pegfilgrastim was significantly associated with fewer incidence rate of FN-related chemotherapy disruptions (17.3 % in filgrastim group vs. 8.3 % in pegfilgrastim group, p = 0.3534 by χ2 test), fewer days of hospitalization due to FN (median number 15 days in filgrastim group vs. 0 in the pegfilgrastim group), and fewer G-CSF-related extra-hematological side effects (26 % in filgrastim group vs. 12.5 % in pegfilgrastim group, p = 0.2987 by χ2 test), with consequent improvement of quality of life. However, statistical comparison of the two groups (by χ2 test) was not properly feasible because of the very small sample size.
Conclusions
In conclusions, in patients affected by relapsed and refractory MM, treated with bendamustine-bortezomib-dexamethasone, primary prophylaxis with pegfilgrastim seems to reduce the incidence of chemotherapy disruptions due to FN, and the days of hospitalization. Moreover, it is better tolerated and may increase the opportunity to maintain the planned schedule of treatment. These results make pegfilgrastim and advantageous option in most cases, both in terms of cost-effectiveness and of quality of life. These preliminary observations need to be validated by controlled clinical trials, involving a larger number of patients.
References
Crawford J, Dale DC, Lyman GH (2004) Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia: risks, consequences, and new directions for its management. Cancer 100:228–237
Pettengell R, Schwenkglenks M, Leonard R et al (2008) Neutropenia occurrence and predictors of reduced chemotherapy delivery: results from the INC-EU prospective observational European neutropenia study. Support Care Cancer 16:1299–1309
United States Department of Health & Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute. Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). Published: May 28, 2009 (v4.03: June 14, 2010)
Smith TJ, Khatcheressian J, Lyman GH et al (2006) 2006 update of recommendations for the use of white blood cell growth factors: an evidence-based clinical practice guideline. J Clin Oncol 24:3187–3205
Crawford J, Armitage J, Balducci L, Becker PS, Blayney DW, Cataland SR, Heaney ML, Hudock S, Kloth DD, Kuter DJ, Lyman GH, McMahon B, Rugo HS, Saad AA, Schwartzberg LS, Shayani S, Steensma DP, Talbott M, Vadhan-Raj S, Westervelt P, Westmoreland M, Dwyer M, Ho M (2013) National comprehensive cancer network. Myeloid growth factors. J Natl Compr Cancer Netw 11(10):1266–1290
Cerchione C, Catalano L, Pareto AE, Picardi M, Pane F (2015) Pegfilgrastim in primary prophylaxis of febrile neutropenia during chemotherapy of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma: a real-life experience. Support Care Cancer 23(2):301–302
Green MD, Koelbl H, Baselga J et al (2003) A randomized doubleblind multicenter phase III study of fixed-dose single-administration pegfilgrastim versus daily filgrastim in patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Ann Oncol 14:29–35
Balducci L et al (2007) Elderly cancer patients receiving chemotherapy benefit from first-cycle pegfilgrastim. Oncologist 12:1416–1424
Ludwig H, Kasparu H, Leitgeb C, Rauch et al (2014) Bendamustine-bortezomib-dexamethasone is an active and well-tolerated regimen in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Blood 123(7):985–991
Link H, Nietsch J, Kerkmann M, Ortner P (2015) Supportive Care Group (ASORS) of the German Cancer Society (DKG). Adherence to granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) guidelines to reduce the incidence of febrile neutropenia after chemotherapy-a representative sample survey in Germany. Support Care Cancer.
Ferrara F, Izzo T, Criscuolo C, Ricciardi C, Viola A, Delia R, Carbone A, Celentano M (2011) Comparison of fixed dose pegfilgrastim and daily filgrastim after autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma autografted on a outpatient basis. Hematol Oncol 29(3):139–143
Chan A, Leng XZ, Chiang JY, Tao M, Quek R, Tay K, Lim ST (2011) Comparison of daily filgrastim and pegfilgrastim to prevent febrile neutropenia in Asian lymphoma patients. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol 7(1):75–81
Kourlaba G, Dimopoulos MA, Pectasides D, Skarlos DV, Gogas H, Pentheroudakis G, Koutras A, Fountzilas G, Maniadakis N (2015) Comparison of filgrastim and pegfilgrastim to prevent neutropenia and maintain dose intensity of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer. Support Care Cancer 23(7):2045–2051
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Rights and permissions
Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.
About this article
Cite this article
Cerchione, C., Catalano, L., Peluso, I. et al. Managing neutropenia by pegfilgrastim in patients affected by relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma treated with bendamustine-bortezomib-dexamethasone. Support Care Cancer 24, 4835–4837 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3430-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3430-9