Abstract
Lights and shadows on the role of rhG-CSF in cancer patients during theCOVID-19 pandemicand future perspectives of research.
Highlights
In managing febrile neutropenia (FN), supportive care indications have driven to an expanded use of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factors to accelerate absolute neutrophil count recovery; in particular, they have recommended its use in patients with intermediate risk (10–20%) and all patients with FN antecedents without risk factors [1,2]
Filgrastim, the first rhG-CSF approved by the US FDA in 1991, has renal- and neutrophil-mediated clearance pathways, while the serum concentrations of long-acting rhG-CSF are due to the neutrophil-mediated clearance [4]
We found three case reports of agranulocytosis following COVID-19 infection responding to rhG-CSF without apparent adverse events [11,12,13]
Summary
Since the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, a principal international panel of experts from European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) [1] and Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) [2], have drawn up recommendations for every aspect of the management of cancer patients.In managing febrile neutropenia (FN), supportive care indications have driven to an expanded use of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (rhG-CSFs) to accelerate absolute neutrophil count recovery; in particular, they have recommended its use in patients with intermediate risk (10–20%) and all patients with FN antecedents without risk factors [1,2].G-CSF is a glycoprotein that stimulates granulopoiesis and leads to proliferation, maturation and mobilisation of neutrophils [3]. In managing febrile neutropenia (FN), supportive care indications have driven to an expanded use of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (rhG-CSFs) to accelerate absolute neutrophil count recovery; in particular, they have recommended its use in patients with intermediate risk (10–20%) and all patients with FN antecedents without risk factors [1,2]. Some authors highlighted that the rhG-CSF administration may counteract with COVID-19-related lymphocytopenia and improve the outcome of the infection in patients without cancer [9,10].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
