Erythropoietin (Epo) is the primary growth factor known to regulate the production of erythrocytes. Thrombopoietin is involved in platelet production, but is not used for the treatment of thrombocytopenia despite numerous trials, due to the frequency of side effects. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been widely used to stimulate white blood cell production. Among the well-accepted treatment options for pancytopenia is supportive care with growth factors and/or cytokines that stimulate blood production.
Therefore, to minimize the risks to patients, alternative treatments are often considered. White blood cell transfusions, while feasible, are rarely performed, in large measure due to allergic reactions.Īlthough a blood transfusion is a simple medical treatment, which can immediately replace blood loss, it is also a potential source of infection. Under these conditions, external compensation for blood loss is often required, including red blood cell and platelet transfusions. Pancytopenia, a condition in which the bone marrow is not able to supply sufficient numbers of blood cells to the body, occurs due to the cytotoxic effects of dose-intensive treatments on rapidly dividing hematopoietic progenitor cells and slowly dividing hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Although high-dose chemotherapy and radiotherapy prolong survival in cancer patients, the side effects of these therapies, including pancytopenia, remain serious concerns.
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