Myeloid growth factor support for dose-dense adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer

Anthracycline- and taxane-based adjuvant chemotherapy regimens have become the most commonly used regimens in the United States for high-risk, early-stage breast cancer. Growth factor support is an essential component of therapy for several of the most commonly used adjuvant chemotherapy regimens that frequently cause substantial myelosuppression and anemia. Extensive data now exist to demonstrate the efficacy of both long- and short-acting myeloid growth factors in patients receiving dose-dense AC --> paclitaxel. This article will explore prophylactic use of both filgrastim (Neupogen) and pegfilgrastim (Neulasta) in recent clinical trials.