The effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the activity of granulocyte enzymes in children with cancer who developed neutropenia after chemotherapy

Purpose: G-CSF is a cytokine that stimulates the proliferation and maturation of granulocyte precursor cells. The results of in vitro and in vivo investigations conducted on animal models revealed that this cytokine influences the functions of mature granulocytes increasing the activities of the granulocyte enzymes participating in phagocytosis. Material and methods: The investigation was conducted on a group of 26 children (age: 1.5 - 17 years) with cancer who developed neutropenia after chemotherapy and were treated with G-CSF. The control group included 29 healthy children (age: 5 - 17 years). The heparinized blood samples were taken before the injection of the stimulator (time 0) and after the 2(nd) and 5(th) injection of G-CSF (on day 3 and 6). Activities of granulocyte enzymes involved in the process of phagocytosis (myeloperoxidase, acid and alkaline phosphatase and esterase) in blood smears were evaluated. Results: It has been found that G-CSF affects the activity of granulocyte enzymes by the normalization of decreased values of myeloperoxidase, acid phosphate and increasing the normal values of alkaline phosphate activity. The enzyme activities increased during the following days of treatment. Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, we can conclude that G-CSF activates the formation of fully competent granulocytes in cytostatic-treated children with various neoplastic diseases.