Randomized placebo-controlled trial of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in patients with chemotherapy-related febrile neutropenia

PURPOSE: To determine whether granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) used in addition to standard inpatient antibiotic therapy shortens the period of hospitalization due to chemotherapy-induced neutropenic fever. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty-four patients with a hematologic (n = 47) or solid tumor (n = 87) who had severe neutropenia (< 0.5 x 10(9)/L) and fever (> 38.5 degrees C once or > 38 degrees C twice over a 12-hour observation period) were randomly assigned to receive GM-CSF 5 micrograms/kg/d (n = 65) or placebo (n = 69) in conjunction with broad-spectrum antibiotics for a minimum of 4 days and a maximum of 14 days. GM-CSF/placebo and antibiotics were stopped if the neutrophil count was greater than 1.0 x 10(9)/L and temperature less than 37.5 degrees C during 2 consecutive days, or for a leukocyte count > or = 10 x 10(9)/L, both followed by a 24-hour observation period (hospitalization period). RESULTS: Compared with placebo, GM-CSF enhanced neutrophil recovery. Median neutrophil counts at day 4 were 2.5 x 10(9)/L (range, 0 to 25) in the GM-CSF arm and 1.3 x 10(9)/L (range, 0 to 9) in the placebo arm (P < .001). No significant difference was observed with regard to median number of days with less than 1.0 x 10(9)/L neutrophils (4 v 4) or days of fever (3 v 3). The median number of days patients were hospitalized while on study was comparable in the GM-CSF and placebo groups at 6 (range, 3 to 14) versus 7 (range, 4 to 14), respectively, according to an intention-to-treat analysis (P = .27). Quality-of-life scores in 90 patients demonstrated significant differences in favor of the placebo group. Hospital costs were significantly higher for GM-CSF-treated patients if GM-CSF was included in the price (median costs, $4,140 [US] for GM-CSF v $590 for placebo; P < .05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that GM-CSF does not affect the number of days for resolution of fever or the hospitalization period for this patient group, although a significant effect of GM-CSF was observed on neutrophil recovery.