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Cancer Drug Information

  • Posted: 06/29/2009
  • Updated: 06/23/2011

Filgrastim

listen 1  (fil-GRAS-tim)

This page contains brief information about filgrastim and a collection of links to more information about the use of this drug, research results, and ongoing clinical trials.

US Brand Name(s): Neupogen
FDA Approved: Yes

Use in Cancer

Filgrastim is approved to prevent and treat:

Filgrastim is also used to treat chronic neutropenia. It is being studied in the treatment of neutropenia in other types of cancer.

More About Filgrastim

Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary 2 - Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug.

MedlinePlus Information on Filgrastim 3 - A lay language summary of important information about this drug that may include the following:

  • warnings about this drug,
  • what this drug is used for and how it is used,
  • what you should tell your doctor before using this drug,
  • what you should know about this drug before using it,
  • other drugs that may interact with this drug, and
  • possible side effects.

Drugs are often studied to find out if they can help treat or prevent conditions other than the ones they are approved for. This patient information sheet applies only to approved uses of the drug. However, much of the information may also apply to unapproved uses that are being studied.

Biological Therapies for Cancer: Questions and Answers 4 - Information about the use of this drug to treat cancer.

Research Results

Clinical Trial Results: Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) Prevents Common Chemotherapy Complication 5 - Important clinical trial results for this drug, background information, and how the trial was done.

Hematopoietic Drugs During Chemotherapy May Raise Leukemia Risk 6 - Information about the use of this drug to treat cancer.

Clinical Trials Accepting Patients

Find Clinical Trials for Filgrastim 7 - Check for trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials now accepting patients.

Important: The drug information on this page is meant to be educational. It is not a substitute for medical advice. The information may not cover all possible uses, actions, interactions, or side effects of this drug, or precautions to be taken while using it. Please see your health care professional for more information about your specific medical condition and the use of this drug.


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Glossary Terms

acute myeloid leukemia (uh-KYOOT MY-eh-loyd loo-KEE-mee-uh)
An aggressive (fast-growing) disease in which too many myeloblasts (immature white blood cells that are not lymphoblasts) are found in the bone marrow and blood. Also called acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, AML, and ANLL.
bone marrow transplantation (bone MAYR-oh tranz-plan-TAY-shun)
A procedure to replace bone marrow that has been destroyed by treatment with high doses of anticancer drugs or radiation. Transplantation may be autologous (an individual's own marrow saved before treatment), allogeneic (marrow donated by someone else), or syngeneic (marrow donated by an identical twin).
cancer (KAN-ser)
A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.
chemotherapy (KEE-moh-THAYR-uh-pee)
Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.
chronic (KRAH-nik)
A disease or condition that persists or progresses over a long period of time.
myeloablative chemotherapy (MY-eh-loh-a-BLAY-tiv KEE-moh-THAYR-uh-pee)
High-dose chemotherapy that kills cells in the bone marrow, including cancer cells. It lowers the number of normal blood-forming cells in the bone marrow, and can cause severe side effects. Myeloablative chemotherapy is usually followed by a bone marrow or stem cell transplant to rebuild the bone marrow.
myelosuppressive therapy (MY-eh-loh-suh-PREH-siv THAYR-uh-pee)
Treatment that inhibits blood cell production.
neutropenia (noo-troh-PEE-nee-uh)
A condition in which there is a lower-than-normal number of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell).
prevention (pree-VEN-shun)
In medicine, action taken to decrease the chance of getting a disease or condition. For example, cancer prevention includes avoiding risk factors (such as smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, and radiation exposure) and increasing protective factors (such as getting regular physical activity, staying at a healthy weight, and having a healthy diet).

Table of Links

1http://www.cancer.gov/PublishedContent/Media/CDR/Media/730887.mp3
2http://www.cancer.gov/Templates/drugdictionary.aspx?CdrID=41057
3http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a692033.html
4http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/biological
5http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/neutropenia0807
6http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/NCI_Cancer_Bulletin_021407/page4#b
7http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=41057&idtype=1
8http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/druginfo/alphalist
9http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/druginfo/drug-page-index
10http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/learningabout/approval-process-for-cancer-
drugs
11http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/investigational-drug-access