|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Growth Factor Support
Colony-Stimulating
Factors (CSFs)
Colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) (sometimes called growth
factors) usually stimulate the maturation and prduction of blood cells,
namely white blood cells which fight infection, and red blood cells which
carry oxygen.
Since anticancer drugs can interfer with the body's ability to make blood cells, CSF's may benefit patients undergoing cancer treatment. Your physician may prescribe CSF's to reduce the liklihood of developing infectious complicaiton or anemia.
Some examples of CSFs and their use in cancer therapy are as follows:
- G-CSF (Neupogen), Pegfilgrastim (Neulasta) and GM-CSF (sargramostim) can increase the production of white blood cells, thereby reducing the risk of infection in patients receiving chemotherapy. G-CSF and GM-CSF can also stimulate the production of stem cells in preparation for stem cell or bone marrow transplants
- Erythropoetin (Procrit) and Darbepoetin (Aranesp) can increase the production of red blood cells and reduce the need for red blood cell transfusions in patients receiving chemotherapy
Researchers are studying CSFs in clinical trials to treat some types of leukemia, metastatic colorectal cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, and other types of cancer.
Source: National Cancer Institute
