Lack of effect of prophylactic hematopoeitic colony stimulating factors in cancer patients and stem cell transplant recipients on short term survival: A meta-analysis of randomized trials

Abstract

6605 Background: Previous randomized trials and meta-analyses have failed to determine with certainty whether prophylactic hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) influence survival in adults and children receiving cancer chemotherapy or undergoing stem cell transplantation (SCT). The primary objective was to determine whether prophylactic CSFs improve short-term overall survival. Secondary objectives were to determine whether prophylactic CSFs affected infection-related mortality, documented infections, microbiologically documented infections or febrile neutropenia. Methods: We performed electronic searches of OVID Medline from 1966 to November 2006; EMBASE from 1980 to November 2006; and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials until the second quarter, 2006. We included studies if there was randomization between CSFs and placebo/no therapy; CSFs were given concurrently with or following initiation of chemotherapy in the prophylactic setting; and chemotherapy/conditioning regimen or supportive care were not planned to be systematically different between study arms. From 4,019 reviewed titles and abstracts, 145 studies were included. Independent extraction was performed by two observers using a standardized data collection sheet. Results: Prophylactic CSFs did not affect short-term overall survival, with a relative risk (RR) of 1.00 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99 to 1.01; P=.9). This result was consistent across different patient populations (including patient age and underlying disease) and study characteristics. The effect of prophylactic CSFs on infection-related mortality was less clear (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.03; P=.09). Intervention did reduce documented infections (rate ratio 0.85, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.92; P<.00001), microbiologically documented infections (rate ratio 0.85, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.95; P=.004) and febrile neutropenia (rate ratio 0.70, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.79; P<.00001). Conclusions: Prophylactic CSFs do not improve short-term overall survival but are associated with decreased rates of infection. Decision-making around this intervention should be based upon further exploration of costs, preferences and quality of life. No significant financial relationships to disclose.