Bone Pain Reduced With Pegfilgrastim Administration 72 Hours After Chemo

Follow Drugslib on

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

Amazon Big Spring Sale - Up to 40% off

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on March 24, 2026.

via HealthDay

TUESDAY, March 24, 2026 -- For patients with breast cancer, administration of pegfilgrastim 72 hours postchemotherapy reduces pegfilgrastim-induced bone pain (PIBP) compared with administration at 24 and 48 hours, according to a study published online March 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Peiyong Li, from Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China, and colleagues conducted a three-arm randomized controlled trial in a tertiary A-level hospital involving patients with stage I to III breast cancer. Participants were randomly allocated to the 24-, 48-, or 72-hour group based on the timing of pegfilgrastim administration postchemotherapy. The area under the curve (AUC) of the daily worst bone pain score for five consecutive days in the first chemotherapy cycle was examined as the primary end point.

The intention-to-treat analyses included 159 patients (53 in each group). The researchers found that the mean AUC was 12.74, 14.20, and 6.05 in the 24-, 48-, and 72-hour groups, respectively, during the first cycle, with the AUC significantly lower in the 72-hour group versus the 24- and 48-hour groups. Compared with the 24-hour and 48-hour groups, the 72-hour group consistently maintained a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in bone pain for the remaining three chemotherapy cycles. As chemotherapy cycles progressed, the incidence and duration of both any grade and severe bone pain decreased. The 72-hour group exhibited significantly lower rates of severe bone pain incidence than the 24- and 48-hour groups (58.5 and 66.0 percent, respectively, versus 22.6 percent). No substantial difference was seen in the incidence of neutropenia among groups; none of the patients developed febrile neutropenia.

"Administration of pegfilgrastim 72 hours after chemotherapy could serve as a viable strategy in clinical practice to improve the overall treatment experience for patients," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2026-03-25 08:53

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords