Use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factors in older patients: a review of recently published data

This review presents the analysis of recently published studies about the benefit from granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSF) in older cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

During the last years, no major study aiming to confirm the clinical benefit of G-CSF prophylaxis in older patients treated with chemotherapy has been published. Nonetheless, all the data made recently available confirm that age, especially if other comorbid conditions are present as well, is a major risk factor for febrile neutropenia occurrence and that G-CSF prophylaxis can reduce significantly that risk.

New modalities of administering G-CSF prophylaxis might be considered in older people in the future. Among these approaches, the 'same day' administration of prophylaxis and chemotherapy and the development of less-expensive approaches for G-CSF prophylaxis, such as the use of biosimilars are studied.