Comparison of Therapeutic G-CSF Cycles and Prophylactic G-CSF Cycles in Patients Receiving Paclitaxel and Carboplatin Combination Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer: A Retrospective Study Report

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences between therapeutic granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) cycles and prophylactic G-CSF cycles in patients receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin combination chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. Material and Method: Medical records of 15 women who received paclitaxel and carboplatin combination chemotherapy for ovarian cancer between January 2003 and December 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. All 15 patients completed 6 cycles of paclitaxel and carboplatin as the first-line chemotherapy. The complications were compared between therapeutic G-CSF cycles and prophylactic G-CSF cycles. Results: The number of chemotherapy cycles correlated with the ratio of prophylactic G-CSF cycles. It was considered that earlier prophylactic G-CSF injections were chosen due to a gradual decrease in WBC and neutrophil counts. The WBC and neutrophil counts were significantly higher in prophylactic G-CSF cycles than in therapeutic G-CSF cycles. However, there were no significant differences in the intervals of chemotherapy, delay of chemotherapy, and incidence of febrile neutropenia between the therapeutic G-CSF and prophylactic G-CSF cycles. Conclusion: Prophylactic G-CSF injections were not effective in preventing the incidence of febrile neutropenia in patients receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin combination chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.