Leaders in Pharmaceutical Business Intelligence (LPBI) Group

The full name for G-CSF is granulocyte colony stimulating factor.

There are different types, including

• Lenograstim (Granocyte)
• Filgrastim (Neupogen, Zarzio, Nivestim, Ratiograstim)
• Long acting (pegylated) filgrastim (pegfilgrastim, Neulasta) and lipegfilgrastim (Longquex)

Pegylated G-CSF stays in the body for longer so you have treatment less often than with the other types of G-CSF.

You may have G-CSF

• After chemotherapy
• Before and after a stem cell transplant

A common side effect of chemotherapy is a drop in the number of white blood cells, which leads to an increased risk of getting an infection. Most people’s white blood cells recover quickly after chemotherapy and they don’t need treatment with G-CSF. But with some types of chemotherapy, such as high dose treatment, it can take a long time for the number of white blood cells to rise again.

Having G-CSF treatment can make white blood cell levels go up faster. So if your white blood cell count doesn’t go up as it should you may have G-CSF treatment. With some types of chemotherapy you have G-CSF as a standard part of your treatment plan.

G-CSF before and after a stem cell transplant

You may have G-CSF as part of a stem cell transplant. Before the treatment you have G-CSF to stimulate the bone marrow to produce stem cells and release them into the blood. The stem cells are collected and then you have high dose chemotherapy.

The chemotherapy stops your bone marrow producing blood cells. So you have the stem cells back into your bloodstream. They go into the bone marrow and start making the different types of blood cells again.

You can have G-CSF either

• As an injection just under your skin (subcutaneously)
• As a drip into your bloodstream

You may have G-CSF as a drip into your bloodstream (intravenously). You can have it through a thin, short tube (a cannula) put into a vein in your arm each time you have treatment. Or you may have it through a central line, a portacath or aPICC line. These are long, plastic tubes that give the drugs directly into a large vein in your chest. You have the tube put in just before your course of treatment starts and it stays in place as long as you need it.

If you have G-CSF as an injection under the skin you have it daily for up to 14 days. You have regular blood tests to check your white blood cell count. If you are having it as part of a planned treatment you start at least a day after your chemotherapy and continue until the number of white blood cells called neutrophils is within the normal range.

If you are having pegylated G-CSF you only need to have one injection at least 24 hours after the end of the chemotherapy.

Common side effects