An institutional evaluation of the safety and efficacy of same-day administration of pegfilgrastim in patients receiving chemotherapy for lung cancer.

Abstract

Background: Pegfilgrastim is recommended to be administered 24 hours after myelosuppressive chemotherapy (CTX) as prophylaxis for chemotherapy-induced (febrile) neutropenia (CIN/FN). Recent studies have yielded equivocal data on same day versus next day administration of pegfilgrastim. There has been limited real world evidence addressing lung cancer (LC) patients and the use of same day pegfilgrastim. We evaluated our own institutional data on the safety of same day pegfilgrastim administration in LC patients. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed by searching electronic health records using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes corresponding with a lung cancer diagnosis between November 1, 2013 and August 31, 2018 at The University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC). Patients included in the study were 18 years of age or older, diagnosed with biopsyconfirmed lung cancer, treated at UACC, and receiving chemotherapy and pegfilgrastim on the same day. The outcomes of interest included FN incidence after the first cycle and across all cycles of CTX, CIN grade 3/4 and CTX dose delays or hospitalizations due to CIN/FN after first cycle and across all cycles of CTX. Results: 1,181 patient records were reviewed and 114 patients met the inclusion criteria;87 (76%) patients had non-small cell LC and 27 (24%) patients had small cell LC. The median age was 68 years, 52% of patients had cancer stage of 3 to 4, and 63% of patients had 0-1 ECOG status. The FN risk assessment was mild in 72% of patients. The mean (SD) of baseline absolute neutrophil count was 5.68 (3.09). In total 384 CTX cycles were received. The table shows the results of all intended outcomes. One patient experienced FN after the first cycle of CTX of irinotecan and 5 patients developed 6 FN episodes across all cycles;2 patients were on carboplatin etoposide;1 patient on cisplatin etoposide;1 patient on vinorelbine and 1 patient was on pemetrexed and then on irinotecan CTX when the two FN episodes were developed. Conclusions: This study showing that same day administration of pegfilgrastim was as effective as next day administration in LC patients, without warranting any concerns for febrile neutropenia or delayed engraftment. Utilization of same day pegfilgrastim, in light of biosimilars and COVID, provides a unique opportunity for cancer care without concerns for FN as stated in previous studies. (Table Presented).