Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 12, 1917-1922, Copyright © 1994 by American Society of Clinical Oncology
Effect of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on oral mucositis after hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation
B Gordon, A Spadinger, E Hodges, E Ruby, R Stanley and P Coccia
Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198-2168.
PURPOSE: Oral mucositis following high-dose chemotherapy may result in
systemic infection and airway compromise, and the severity of oral
mucositis may be dose-limiting. Here we investigate the effect of
granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which
significantly shortens duration of neutropenia after hematopoietic stem-
cell transplantation (HSCT) on oral mucositis. PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Thirteen children undergoing HSCT were prepared with etoposide (VP-16),
thiotepa (TT), and total-body irradiation (TBI), and 13 with VP-16, TT, and
cyclophosphamide (CPM). Following transplantation, 14 patients received
GM-CSF at a dose of 125 micrograms/m2/d by continuous intravenous infusion
(six prepared with VP-16, TT, and TBI, and eight prepared with VP-16, TT,
and CPM), and 12 patients received no growth factor. RESULTS: Mucositis was
more severe and persisted longer in patients prepared with the
TBI-containing regimen. For this regimen, the duration of severe oral
mucositis was shortened by the administration of GM-CSF, although the
severity of mucositis was unaffected. No statistically significant effect
of GM-CSF could be shown in patients who received VP-16, TT, and CPM. The
incidence of positive fungal oral or blood cultures did not appear
different whether patients received GM-CSF or not. CONCLUSION: For patients
undergoing stomatotoxic HSCT regimens, GM-CSF may reduce the duration of
oral mucositis, but is unlikely to effect the severity of oral mucositis or
risk of airway compromise, and the severity of mucositis is likely to
remain dose-limiting.