A comparison of efficacy of sargramostim (yeast-derived RhuGM-CSF) and filgrastim (bacteria-derived RhuG-CSF) in the therapeutic setting of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression

A randomized, double-blind, multicenter study in 181 afebrile cancer patients with ANC levels <500/μL receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy was undertaken to compare sargramostim (yeast-derived recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, RhuGM-CSF) and filgrastim (bacteria-derived recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, RhuG-CSF) in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. Patients received daily subcutaneous (SC) injections of either agent until ANC levels reached at least 1500/μL. There was no statistical difference between treatment groups in the mean number of days to reach an ANC of500/μL, but the mean number of days to reach ANC levels of 1000/μL and 1500/μ L was approximately one day less in patients receiving filgrastim. Fewer patients in the sargramostim arm were hospitalized, and they had a shorter mean length of hospitalization, mean duration of fever, and mean duration of IV antibiotic therapy compared with patients who received filgras...