The role of interleukin-11 to prevent chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in patients with solid tumors, lymphoma, acute myeloid leukemia and bone marrow failure syndromes

Thrombocytopenia occurs at various grades of severity in patients with malignancies undergoing myelosuppressive chemotherapy. In most instances, this is the major dose-limiting hematologic toxicity, especially in the treatment of potentially curable cancers. The standard preventive measure against chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia has been dose reduction and/or dose delay. This can often lead to poor outcomes, including reduced disease free periods and overall survival. With the availability of a platelet growth factor, recombinant human interleukin (IL)-11, an effective way to prevent chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia and accelerate platelet recovery, can now be provided to patients. The use of recombinant human IL-11 has also been extended to include patients with prolonged thrombocytopenia, such as those with bone marrow failure syndromes. With the use of recombinant human IL-11 in both malignant and non-malignant conditions, adverse reactions often seen with platelet transfusions, such as transfusion reactions, viral and bacterial infections and platelet refractoriness, can now be decreased or avoided.