Abstract:
The isolation, purification, and cloning of the growth factors that act on early cells to produce mature hematopoietic cells has made available a whole new class of therapeutic agents. G-CSF (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; filgrastim) is one of the more important of these factors, acting as it does on cells of the neutrophil lineage, a major defense against infections. Neutropenia is the dose-limiting toxicity for a wide range of cancer chemotherapeutic agents, and the ability of filgrastim to minimize and limit the duration of this often life-threatening complication has had a major impact on improving cancer therapy and reducing the need for hospitalization. This book, the work of 38 contributing authors, outlines the biochemistry, biology and properties of filgrastim, its ability to release peripheral progenitor cells, its major impact on cancer therapy, especially by permitting delivery of high-dose chemotherapy, and on the management of severe infections in immunocompromised patients. The 17 chapters cover the following topic areas: the biology, biochemistry and structure, and pharmacology of filgrastim; causes, clinical consequences, and treatment of neutropenia; the uses of filgrastim in severe chronic neutropenia, in human immunodeficiency virus infection, in peripheral blood progenitor cell support, in the chemotherapy setting, in bone-marrow and peripheral blood cell transplantation, for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes, in acute myeloid leukemia, and in infectious diseases; importance of dose in cancer chemotherapy, and the role of hematopoietic growth factors; the safety profile of filgrastim, its economic impact, its impact on quality of life, and practical aspects of its administration. Chapters are well referenced and there is a subject index.
Keywords: Antineoplastic Agents/*ADVERSE EFFECTS Bone Marrow Transplantation Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor/CHEMISTRY/METABOLISM/ *THERAPEUTIC USE Human Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute/DRUG THERAPY Myelodysplastic Syndromes/DRUG THERAPY Neutropenia/CHEMICALLY INDUCED/DRUG THERAPY Recombinant Proteins/CHEMISTRY/METABOLISM/*THERAPEUTIC USE MONOGRAPH 951230
M95C3203
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