A comparative analysis between pegfilgrastim and lenograstim administered to patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

Background: This study aimed to clarify whether or not switching lenograstim for pegfilgrastim enables the sustained effects of decreasing neutropenia and shortening the length of hospitalization in patients receiving taxane-based chemotherapy.Methods: Patients being treated docetaxel and nedaplatin therapy in our facility were enrolled in this study. In the first courses of therapy, we administered lenograstim when grade 3 neutropenia occurred (group A). In the second or subsequent courses of therapy, we administered lenograstim when grade 2 neutropenia occurred through March2015 (group B) and then administered pegfilgrastim on day 2 of chemotherapy from April 2015 (group C). We retrospectively evaluated the incidence of severe neutropenia and febrile neutropenia (FN), length of hospitalization, and other adverse events.Results: FN was observed in 10% (4/41) of group B and 0% (0/36) of group C (p=0.0511). Grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred in 76% (31/41) of group B and 3% (1/36) of group C (p