In a nutshell
This study compared the ability of lipegfilgrastim (Lonquex) and pegfilgrastim (Neulasta) in preventing low neutrophil levels in breast cancer patients during chemotherapy.
Some background
Neutrophils are important cells of the immune system that protect the body from infections. A common side effect of chemotherapy is neutropenia (a low neutrophil cell count), leaving patients vulnerable to infections. A class of drugs called granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) can increase the number of neutrophils produced, preventing neutropenia. Pegfilgrastim is an example of an approved G-CSF based treatment. In this study researchers compared the effects of pegfilgrastim to a new G-CSF drug called lipegfilgrastim.
Methods & findings
Researchers assigned 188 patients with stage II-IV breast cancer to receive standard chemotherapy and G-CSF treatment. 94 patients received pegfilgrastim and 94 patients received lipegfilgrastim. Both drugs showed similar benefit at preventing neutropenia. Lipegfilgrastim prevented neutropenia in 56% of patients compared to 49% of patients treated with pegfilgrastim during the first cycle of chemotherapy. The duration of neutropenia was also similar with both drugs. The occurrence of febrile neutropenia, in which low a low neutrophil count is accompanied by a fever, was seen in only 3 patients treated with lipegfilgrastim and in none of the patients treated with pegfilgrastim. The rate of side effects other than neutropenia was also similar between treatment groups.
The bottom line
Lipegfilgrastim performs as well as pegfilgrastim at preventing neutropenia in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
The fine print
Several of the authors of this paper are employed by Teva Pharmaceuticals, who manufactures lipegfilgrastim (Lonquex).
What’s next?
Consult with your physician regarding G-CSF based treatments for the prevention of neutropenia during chemotherapy.
Published By :
BMC cancer
Date :
Aug 14, 2013
