Abstract
Background: Breast cancer, especially in women, is one of the most common cancers. Granolucyte colony stimulating factor (filgrastim), is used in the prophylaxi and treatment of neutropenia and infection in these patients. Pegylated form of this drug, pegfilgrastim, has entered the market in last decade. This study sought to examine the effects of filgrastim and pegfilgrastim in these patients.
Methods: In this semi experimental trial study, 100 patients with breast cancer in the third course of cyclophosphamide and epirubicine chemotherapy regimen were selected. Patients were divided into two groups with 50 patients equally with random allocation list. Before chemotherapy, complete blood count test was taken and drugs were injected subcutaneously 24 hours after chemotherapy. Complete blood count test was taken from all patients in the first, second and third weeks after chemotherapy and variation of white cells and neutrophils were noted. Bone pain severity after drug perception was scaled with pain assessment tool.
Results: By comparison of patients in two groups of filgrastim and pegfilgrastim there was no statistically significant difference in the white blood cells and neutrophil count in the time interval of first, second and third weeks after chemotherapy (p-value >0.05). Patients of two groups did not have significant difference in bone pain severity statistically.
Conclusion: Filgrastim and pegfilgrastim have the same effect upon increase of white blood cell and neutrophil count, treatment of neutropenia and bone pain after chemotherapy in breast cancer and have no priority to each other.