[Use of colony-stimulating factors as possible therapeutic agents]

The first clinical trials have already indicated that long-term administration of recombinant hemopoietic growth factors can be a clinically effective procedure for correcting abnormalities in blood cell formation. Thus, the colony stimulating factors (CSFs) have proved to be highly effective agents in stimulating the formation of granulocytes, monocytes and eosinophils both in animals and man, and in enhancing resistance to otherwise lethal infections. They offer the bright prospect of use in any clinical situation in which the formation or function of these cells is abnormally low (due to the reduced production of myeloid elements such as occurring in aplastic anemias or to the killing of myeloid progenitors and precursors caused by anti-tumor chemotherapy) and causes a real risk of life-threatening infections. From initial clinical trials the CSFs, particularly GM-CSF and G-CSF, can be anticipated to perform effectively in offering the clinician the possibility of active intervention in sustaining myelopoiesis.