Growth factors and hematopoietic recovery.

Availability of hematopoietic growth factors (GC-SF, GM-CSF, erythropoietin, etc.) has started a new arena of dose-intensification. The use of such growth factors has resulted in faster hematopoietic recovery of cancer patients and now offers several new treatment modifications. These include: (1)dose-intensification without hematopoietic stem cell support, (2) speedier hematopoietic recovery after hematoablative therapy and stem cell transplantation (allogeneic or autologous); (3) use of combination of growth factors, and (4) improvement in the delivery of anti-microbial drugs which are toxic towards hematopoietic cells (Gancyclovir, Bactrim, etc.). The above treatment strategies are under active clinical trials and can provide improved, cost-effective methods of treating patients with cancer.