The effect of mammalian glycosylated recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor was investigated in 24 patients with newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a phase I/II study. All patients received standard chemotherapy with CHOP. RhGM-CSF was administered after the first cycle for 5 days, and at one of four dose levels (2, 4, 8 and 16 μg/kg). Patients were randomized to receive the drug either by continuous intravenous infusion or twice daily as subcutaneous injection. No significant difference in results was observed between subcutaneous administration of rhGM-CSF and continuous i.v. infusion and these patient groups could therefore be combined in the analysis. Administration of rhGM-CSF resulted in a significant dose-dependent increase of total WBC, mainly neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes. The increase was observed in 18/24 patients, reaching a peak 24-72 (median 24) hours after the start of rhGM-CSF. The CHOP chemotherapy-induced leucocyte nadir occurred on day 12 (mean) compared to day 14 for the 127 historical controls. The WBC nadir values were higher (2.4 ± 1.4) than for historical controls (1.8 ± 1.1) and the leucopenic/neutropenic period was of shorter duration. Following the chemotherapy nadir a more rapid recovery of WBC was seen than in controls. GM-CSF was well tolerated, the side effects were mild and transient, and included myalgias, low grade fever, headache, chest/bone discomfort, nausea, erythema at injection site and superficial phlebitis. The encouraging results of this phase I/II study indicate the need for a prospective controlled study of GM-CSF in chemotherapy of malignant lymphoma.
Keywords: Granulocyte-macrophage; chemotherapy non-Hodgkin's lymphomas; colony-stimulating factor.