Supportive care in hematologic malignancies.

ABSTRACT

Supportive care in hematologic malignancies includes a wide range of topics. We have selected the following issues for a review of recently published developments new insights into the benefits and risks of established hematopoietic growth factors (HGF), such as granulocyte- or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF, GM-CSF); the emerging role of newly introduced HGFs such as keratinocyte-growth factor (KGF) and thrombopoietin; the prophylactic and therapeutic use of amifostine, a cytoprotective agent; the role of hematopoietic growth factors and the demethylating agent decitabine in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS); infectious complications of anticancer therapy; and, recent improvements in and complications of transfusional therapy, including the renewed interest in granulocyte transfusions.