Same-day versus next-day pegfilgrastim or pegfilgrastim-cbqv in patients with lymphoma receiving CHOP-like chemotherapy.

ABSTRACT

Aim: To compare the incidence of febrile neutropenia and related outcomes of prophylactic same-day versus next-day pegfilgrastim/pegfilgrastim-cbqv in patients with lymphoma receiving cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, vincristine, prednisone (CHOP)-like chemotherapy. Methods: Retrospective, real-world, single-institution study. Results: 93 patients received 460 cycles of CHOP-like chemotherapy. The incidence of febrile neutropenia and grade 3/4 chemotherapy-induced neutropenia was 5 and 16.5%, respectively. In 401 cycles pegfilgrastim was administered same-day versus 12 cycles next-day. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 17 cycles versus 0 cycles (p = 1.00) and grade 3/4 chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in 65 cycles (16.2%) versus 1 cycle (16.7%; p = 1.00) with same-day versus next-day pegfilgrastim administration, respectively. Conclusion: Pegfilgrastim may be safely administered on the same day as chemotherapy in patients with lymphoma receiving CHOP-like chemotherapy.

Lay abstract Aside from killing cancer cells, chemotherapy can also affect the growth of immune cells that normally prevent infections. Without enough of these immune cells in the blood, the patient's body cannot fight infections. This can lead to a serious condition called febrile neutropenia, and death in the most severe cases. Pegfilgrastim, a growth factor that helps important types of immune cells to grow, can prevent this side effect of chemotherapy. Usually, pegfilgrastim is administered the day after chemotherapy but there is a trend to administer it on the day of chemotherapy, but whether this is effective and safe is currently unclear. This study from the University of Arizona Cancer Center showed that administration of pegfilgrastim on the same day as chemotherapy is a safe, effective method of preventing febrile neutropenia in patients who receive standard-of-care chemotherapy to treat lymphoma.