Recombinant human thrombopoietin in prevention of chemotherapy-induced thromcytopenia

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of domestic recombinant human thrombopoietin(rhTPO) in prevention of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia. METHODS: Patients who have previously experienced thrombocytopenia after chemotherapy in the 1st cycle were randomly divided into A and B groups. Group A was treated with chemotherapy plus rhTPO and chemotherapy alone in the 2nd and 3rd cycle, respectively. The treatment of group B was just contrary to group A. rhTPO was subcutaneously injected 6-24 h after completion of the 2nd chemotherapy cycle. Other patients who have previously experienced thrombocytopenia after chemotherapy entered into group C of open study, and 2 cycles of chemotherapy were given to these patients. No rhTPO was given in cycle 1, and rhTPO administration was the same as above in cycle 2. RESULTS: A total of 32 patients were evaluated. Compared with the contrast cycle, rhTPO was able to increase the platelet count on the 9, 15, 17 and 21 day (P<0.05), the mean recovery time (platelet ≥ 100 × 10⁹ L^-1) in treated cycle was 5 day shorter than in contrast cycle and the mean time with platelet count <5 × 10 ⁹ L^-1 in treated cycle was 1 day shorter than in contrast cycle (P = 0.029). Relevant side effects occurred in 4 cases: 3 had a fever and exanthema were found in the remaining case and was manageable. The results proved that the administration had no significant influence on hemoglobin, white cell count, platlet function, blood coagulation function, and liver and renal function. CONCLUSION: rhTPO is able to reduce the likelihood of chemotherapy-induce thrombocytopenia and shorten the duration of thrombocytopenia with mild and manageable side effects.