The current status of myeloid growth factor therapy

Supralethal chemotherapy has been used in an attempt to cure certain malignancies by employing doses of cytotoxic agents beyond conventional limits. The resulting damage to the bone marrow requires rescue with an infusion of autologous or allogenic marrow to repopulate the haemopoietic system. The recent availability of marrow stimulants for clinical use may prove to be a major advance in oncology as early evidence suggests that they can reduce cytotoxic drug induced myelosuppression and possibly allow escalation of chemotherapy with improved tumour responsiveness. Such growth factors may also improve primary marrow disorders. This article outlines the properties of the myeloid growth factors and then reviews the important clinical conditions in which they have been employed so far. Erythropoietin and lymphoid growth factors are not dealt with.