No AML from Neupogen or similar drugs

[Birgitta-A]

Hi All,
Here is a report about patients treated with Neupogen or similar drugs. The patients had no increased risk for AML transformation and a better overall survival. The results are in agreement with recent reports, confirming that GCSF treatment does not increase the risk of AML transformation.
http://www.abstractserver.com/mds2011/planner/index.php?go=abstract&action=abstract_iplanner&absno=132&MDS2011=9gj8bhdk0bunk7nston62kni20&MDS2011=9gj8bhdk0bunk7nston62kni20

Kind regards
Birgitta-A

[cheri]

Is there any indication/evidence that the results would be similar with Neulasta? My Dr seems to think that Neupogen is the safer alternative, and has heard some negative things about the longer lasting Neulasta...
Any more info out there we can look at--currently I take Neupogen 5 days post Vidaza...thanks!

[Birgitta-A]

Hi Cheri,
As far as I remember I have not read anything about Neulasta but they never mention in the acstracts what type of granulocyte colony stimulating factor they use. We don't know if it is Neupogen, Neulasta or some other brand.
Kind regards
Birgitta-A
Neupogen 2 injections/week since neutropenic fever Sept 2007

[cheri]

Hi Birgitta~
Well, the fact that you have been on regular Neupogen for 4 years speaks for itself.....
I wonder where we might find more information on Neulasta, and how it differs from several doses of Neupogen. My Dr says it's "long term" stimulator, but what does that mean, exactly...

[Birgitta-A]

Hi cheri,
Amgen makes both drugs. Neulasta is a modern drug and stays longer in the body because it has a large chemical called polyethylene glycol (or PEG) added to one end of the Neupogen molecule. At the same time Neulasta is difficult to monitor - if you for example get pain from the joints the adverse effect will last much longer.
http://www.neulasta.com/patient/howcanhelp/neulasta_neupogen.html

When I have tried different drugs for iron overload like Ferriprox (not approved in the US) and a normal dose of Exjade I have been taking Neupogen every day to increase the very low WBCs. The same thing happened when I started to take Thalidomide 50 mg/day - I can only take 50 mg 4 times/week.
Kind regards
Birgitta-A