Role of cytokines in autologous bone marrow transplantation

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow support has been increasingly used in the treatment of malignant disease. The use of hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors (CSF), particularly when coupled with the use of CSF-primed peripheral blood progenitor cells, has enabled a substantial reduction in the duration of severe leukopenia and in the morbidity associated with bone marrow transplantation. Furthermore, their use has reduced resource utilization and hospital charges and has also permitted the performance of autologous bone marrow transplantation support largely on an outpatient basis.