Can hypertransfusion attenuate myelosuppression associated with combination chemotherapy in patients with inoperable bronchogenic carcinoma?
Based on the concept of “stem-cell competition,” hypertransfusion has been shown to attenuate the leucopenia associated with chemotherapy in children with leukemia. We conducted a randomized, controlled study of hypertransfusion in 25 patients with inoperable lung cancer who received combination chemotherapy consisting of methotrexate, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, and CCNU (Lomustine) (MACC scheme). Twelve patients in the hypertransfusion group were given red cell transfusion to a hemoglobin value greater than or equal to 17 gm/dl prior to each chemotherapy cycle. The two groups of patients were comparable in age, cell type, extent of disease, performance status, and initial hemoglobin level and blood counts. The mean fall in granulocyte count was greater for control group (3.76 X 10(9)/liter) than for hypertransfusion group (3.27 X 10(9)/liter), and the mean fall in platelet count was greater for control group (53.84 X 10(9)/liter) than for hypertransfusion group (35.83 X 10(9)/liter
Related Questions
- Can hypertransfusion attenuate myelosuppression associated with combination chemotherapy in patients with inoperable bronchogenic carcinoma?
- Does additional doxorubicin chemotherapy improve outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated by liver transplantation?
- Is sentinel lymph node biopsy reliable and indicated after preoperative chemotherapy in patients with breast carcinoma?
