An Oral Hemokine, HQK-1002, Enhances Neutrophil Recovery in Sublethally-irradiated Mice and in Baboons

Abstract

Severe neutropenia is associated with radiation therapy when large areas of bone marrow are exposed and more often associated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy, which can cause treatment unplanned interruptions and may compromise clinical outcome (e.g., decreased local control rate of head-and-neck cancers). An orally-active neutrophil stimulant which reduces the duration or magnitude of neutropenia would benefit patients undergoing radiation therapy.