DOI: 10.1097/01.COT.0000289257.10755.2e

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Issn Print: 0276-2234

Publication Date: 2005/05/10


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New NCCN Guidelines: All Patients at Risk of Neutropenia Need Growth Factors

Ed Susman

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Excerpt

HOLLYWOOD, FL—All patients who are at high risk of neutropenia—especially those undergoing chemotherapy—should be offered colony-stimulating factors to prevent potentially fatal blood-borne infections, according to new guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).
The organization's first Myeloid Growth Factors Guideline suggests that all patients with a greater than 20% risk of developing febrile neutropenia due to chemotherapy or related cancer treatments should receive the live-saving, but expensive, drugs.
“For patients with a febrile neutropenia risk equal to or greater than 20%, prophylactic colony-stimulating factor use is appropriate for first and all cycles of treatment,” Douglas Blayney, MD, said in presenting the guidelines here at the 10th Annual Conference on Clinical Practice Guidelines and Outcomes Data in Oncology.
Dr. Blayney is Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and the newly appointed Editor of ASCO's new Journal of Oncology Practice.
The NCCN guidelines state that for patients with a febrile neutropenia risk of 10% to 20%, prophylactic colony-stimulating factor use should be considered based on the treatment intent and the importance of chemotherapy dose delivery on schedule. For patients with a febrile neutropenia risk of less than 10%, however, prophylactic colony-stimulating factor use is not recommended.
The guidelines specify that the suggestion is applicable for:
“For patients with a febrile neutropenia risk of 10% to 20%, prophylactic colony-stimulating factor use should be considered based on the treatment intent and the importance of chemotherapy dose delivery on schedule,” the guideline states.
“For patients with a febrile neutropenia risk of less than 10%, prophylactic colony-stimulating factor use is not recommended.
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