A comparison of the effects of every day and every other day administration of Granulocyte - colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the number of leukocyte, platelets, hemoglobin, and pain in patients with breast cancer

Background: Prophylaxis fever and neutropenia using G-CFS are recommended in most chemotherapy regimens in women with breast cancer. Among common side effects of G-CFS injection, one can refer to skeletal pains. The present study was carried out in order to examine the level of pain and changes in blood cells in two methods of every day and every other day administration of G-CFS. Methods: In the present clinical trial, 186 patients (93 in each group) were considered as the study sample. Ninety-three patients with breast cancer were given G-CFS on a daily basis, and then every other day in the next phase of their chemotherapy, the effect of these two methods on the number of WBC, Hb, PLT, and pain level in the patients were compared. Results: There was no significant difference between the two administration methods regarding the number of white blood cells and platelet of the patients. The mean score of pain in every other day administration of G-CFS was 5.6 while it was 6.6 in the group with a daily administration, and this difference was significantly meaningful (p = 0.016). In patients with breast cancer, every other day compared to daily administration of G-CFS did not lead to any difference in the number of white blood cells and platelets. Conclusion: There was no significant difference between the groups received G-CFS on an everyday basis and the one on an every-other-day basis in terms of leukocytopenia. It is recommended that G-CFS is administered on an every-other-day basis