Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (798 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (g-csf) that is used in the treatment and prevention of neutropenia, preparation and collection of blood progenitor cells, and for use in peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: R-metHuG-CSF; R metHuG CSF; Recombinant-Methionyl Human Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Recombinant Methionyl Human Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor; G-CSF Recombinant, Human Methionyl; G CSF Recombinant, Human Methionyl; Neupogen; Topneuter.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
Related concepts
- Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
- Neutropenia
- Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 2,434 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Filgrastim” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 400 of them (16.4%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 809 records.
Reviews account for 266 records (10.9%) and meta-analyses for 26. Randomized controlled trials number 343 (14.1%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up a comparatively large share of this literature, which means many treatment questions have been tested directly.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 480 |
| 2000-2009 | 745 |
| 2010-2019 | 809 |
| 2020 onward | 400 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 266 | 10.9% |
| Meta-analyses | 26 | 1.1% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 343 | 14.1% |
Method: PubMed query "Filgrastim"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in drugs and chemicals
Studies of a chemical or drug can answer very different questions: what it is and how it behaves in cells and animals, how the body handles it, and whether it changes outcomes in people. Laboratory and animal findings often do not carry over to patients, and observational studies of exposures are confounded by who uses a substance and why. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to use, avoid, start or stop any substance or medicine; talk to a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. Check the dose, the species, the comparison group and whether a patient-relevant outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intrauterine G-CSF Administration in Recurrent Implantation Failure (RIF): An Rct | 2020 | Randomized controlled trial Design not recorded in structured metadata | 44 | cc by PMID 32198409 · DOI · PMC7083859 |
| Biosimilar structural comparability assessment by NMR: from small proteins to monoclonal antibodies | 2016 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 36 | cc by PMID 27578487 · DOI · PMC5006049 |
| Implantation of a Poly-L-Lactide GCSF-Functionalized Scaffold in a Model of Chronic Myocardial Infarction | 2017 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 33 | cc by PMID 28116550 · DOI · PMC5323505 |
| Risk of febrile neutropenia in breast cancer chemotherapy despite the prophylactic use of pegfilgrastim: a retrospective analysis | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42599616 · DOI · PMC13695627 |
Intrauterine G-CSF Administration in Recurrent Implantation Failure (RIF): An Rct [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- This study investigates the effects of intrauterine G-CSF on endometrial thickness, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate in a recurrent implantation failure (RIF) group with normal endometrium.
- Closing excerpt
- The intervention of administration G-CSF into the uterine cavity in RIF patients with normal endometrium, did not alter the endometrial thickness, clinical pregnancy rates, or live birth rates.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (262 words)
This study investigates the effects of intrauterine G-CSF on endometrial thickness, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate in a recurrent implantation failure (RIF) group with normal endometrium. This study was designed as a prospective randomized controlled trial with the involvement of 157 RIF group pati; ents. The RIF group was formed on the basis of the RIF criteria: "The failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after the transfer of at least four good-quality embryos in a minimum of three fresh or frozen cycles to a woman under the age of 40 years. The study sample included 82 patients in the G-CSF group who received G-CSF once a day on hCG. The procedure was performed by administering 30 mIU of Leucostim®(Filgrastim [G-CSF] 30 mIU/mL; DEM Medical, Dong-A; South Korea) through slow infusion into the endometrial cavity using a soft embryo transfer catheter. Normal saline of 1 mL was infused into the endometrial cavity in the same way in 75 patients in the control group. The standard ICSI procedure was used for all patients, and fresh cycle embryos were transferred on the third or fifth day. No statistically significant difference was identified in clinical pregnancy rates, miscarriage rates and live birth rates between the G-CSF group and the control group (p = 0.112, p = 0.171, p = 0.644, respectively), and no difference was observed between the two groups regarding endometrial thickness (p = 0.965). The intervention of administration G-CSF into the uterine cavity in RIF patients with normal endometrium, did not alter the endometrial thickness, clinical pregnancy rates, or live birth rates.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 32198409 · DOI · PMC7083859
Biosimilar structural comparability assessment by NMR: from small proteins to monoclonal antibodies [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Biosimilar drug products must have a demonstrated similarity with respect to the reference product's molecules in order to ensure both the effectiveness of the drug and the patients' safety.
- Closing excerpt
- , a small pH shift or other changes in the protein formulation.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (144 words)
Biosimilar drug products must have a demonstrated similarity with respect to the reference product's molecules in order to ensure both the effectiveness of the drug and the patients' safety. In this paper the fusion framework of a highly sensitive NMR fingerprinting approach for conformational changes and mathematically-based biosimilarity metrics is introduced. The final goal is to translate the complex spectral information into biosimilarity scores, which are then used to estimate the degree of similarity between the biosimilar and the reference product. The proposed method was successfully applied to a small protein, i.e., filgrastim (neutropenia treatment), which is the first biosimilar approved in the United States, and a relatively large protein, i.e., monoclonal antibody rituximab (lymphoma treatment). This innovative approach introduces a new level of sensitivity to structural changes that are induced by, e.g., a small pH shift or other changes in the protein formulation.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 27578487 · DOI · PMC5006049
Implantation of a Poly-L-Lactide GCSF-Functionalized Scaffold in a Model of Chronic Myocardial Infarction [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- A previously developed poly-L-lactide scaffold releasing granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (PLLA/GCSF) was tested in a rabbit chronic model of myocardial infarction (MI) as a ventricular patch.
- Closing excerpt
- These findings were coupled with a reduction in end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes, indicating a preventive effect of the scaffold on ventricular dilation, and an improvement in cardiac performance.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (145 words)
A previously developed poly-L-lactide scaffold releasing granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (PLLA/GCSF) was tested in a rabbit chronic model of myocardial infarction (MI) as a ventricular patch. Control groups were constituted by healthy, chronic MI and nonfunctionalized PLLA scaffold. PLLA-based electrospun scaffold efficiently integrated into a chronic infarcted myocardium. Functionalization of the biopolymer with GCSF led to increased fibroblast-like vimentin-positive cellular colonization and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration within the micrometric fiber mesh in comparison to nonfunctionalized scaffold; PLLA/GCSF polymer induced an angiogenetic process with a statistically significant increase in the number of neovessels compared to the nonfunctionalized scaffold; PLLA/GCSF implanted at the infarcted zone induced a reorganization of the ECM architecture leading to connective tissue deposition and scar remodeling. These findings were coupled with a reduction in end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes, indicating a preventive effect of the scaffold on ventricular dilation, and an improvement in cardiac performance.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 28116550 · DOI · PMC5323505
Risk of febrile neutropenia in breast cancer chemotherapy despite the prophylactic use of pegfilgrastim: a retrospective analysis [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundPegfilgrastim, a long-acting granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), is used to prevent febrile neutropenia (FN) in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
- Closing excerpt
- A low baseline platelet count was associated with an increased risk of FN or severe neutropenia despite pegfilgrastim prophylaxis, though this finding requires confirmation in larger studies given the limited number of events.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (247 words)
BackgroundPegfilgrastim, a long-acting granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), is used to prevent febrile neutropenia (FN) in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. However, a small subset of patients still develops FN. This study aimed to assess the real-world incidence of FN and identify potential risk factors in this specific population.MethodsThis retrospective study included breast cancer patients who received pegfilgrastim prophylaxis at Tokyo Medical University Hospital between February 2019 and December 2024. Inclusion required pegfilgrastim use at least once during chemotherapy. FN was defined as an absolute neutrophil count below 500/µL (or a predicted ANC below 1,000/µL) and an axillary temperature 37.5 °C or higher. Cases of FN and associated risk factors were analyzed using logistic regression models.ResultsThis study included 378 patients (median age 53). Tumor subtypes were luminal (50.0%), HER2-positive (20.9%), and triple-negative (29.1%), with dose-dense regimens being the most common (55.8%). Of 2,784 total chemotherapy administrations, pegfilgrastim was used in 2,125 cycles (76.3%). The incidence of FN despite pegfilgrastim was 2.1% (8/378), with the highest rate observed in immune checkpoint inhibitor-containing regimens (9.1%, 2/22). Multivariate analysis identified a low baseline platelet count as a significant independent risk factor for combined FN and grade 3-4 neutropenia (OR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.96-0.99; P = 0.02).ConclusionAlthough pegfilgrastim is effective, FN still occurs in a small percentage of patients. A low baseline platelet count was associated with an increased risk of FN or severe neutropenia despite pegfilgrastim prophylaxis, though this finding requires confirmation in larger studies given the limited number of events.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42599616 · DOI · PMC13695627
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Recommendations for the Use of WBC Growth Factors: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update [5]
- Research article The impact of primary prophylaxis with granulocyte colony-stimulating factors on febrile neutropenia during chemotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials [6]
- Research article Filgrastim for the treatment of hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome [7]
- Research article A systematic literature review of the efficacy, effectiveness, and safety of filgrastim [8]
- Research article Refining the role of pegfilgrastim (a long-acting G-CSF) for prevention of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia: consensus guidance recommendations [9]
- Research article Comparative effectiveness of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors to prevent febrile neutropenia and related complications in cancer patients in clinical practice: A systematic review [10]
References
- Kalem Z, Namli Kalem M, Bakirarar B, Kent E, Makrigiannakis A, Gurgan T. Intrauterine G-CSF Administration in Recurrent Implantation Failure (RIF): An Rct. . 2020. PMID 32198409 · DOI · PMC7083859
- Japelj B, Ilc G, Marušič J, Senčar J, Kuzman D, Plavec J. Biosimilar structural comparability assessment by NMR: from small proteins to monoclonal antibodies. . 2016. PMID 27578487 · DOI · PMC5006049
- Spadaccio C, Nappi F, De Marco F, Sedati P, Taffon C, Nenna A, et al.. Implantation of a Poly-L-Lactide GCSF-Functionalized Scaffold in a Model of Chronic Myocardial Infarction. . 2017. PMID 28116550 · DOI · PMC5323505
- Kusama H, Horimoto Y, Iwai K, Kitaoku Y, Takeda F, Hamaoka R, et al.. Risk of febrile neutropenia in breast cancer chemotherapy despite the prophylactic use of pegfilgrastim: a retrospective analysis. . 2026. PMID 42599616 · DOI · PMC13695627
- Smith TJ, Bohlke K, Lyman GH, Carson KR, Crawford J, Cross SJ, et al.. Recommendations for the Use of WBC Growth Factors: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update. J Clin Oncol. 2015. PMID 26169616 · DOI
- Wang L, Baser O, Kutikova L, Page JH, Barron R. The impact of primary prophylaxis with granulocyte colony-stimulating factors on febrile neutropenia during chemotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Support Care Cancer. 2015. PMID 25821144 · DOI · PMC4584106
- Farese AM, MacVittie TJ. Filgrastim for the treatment of hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome. Drugs Today (Barc). 2015. PMID 26488033 · DOI
- Dale DC, Crawford J, Klippel Z, Reiner M, Osslund T, Fan E, et al.. A systematic literature review of the efficacy, effectiveness, and safety of filgrastim. Support Care Cancer. 2018. PMID 28939926 · DOI · PMC5827957
- Aapro M, Boccia R, Leonard R, Camps C, Campone M, Choquet S, et al.. Refining the role of pegfilgrastim (a long-acting G-CSF) for prevention of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia: consensus guidance recommendations. Support Care Cancer. 2017. PMID 28842778 · DOI · PMC5610660
- Mitchell S, Li X, Woods M, Garcia J, Hebard-Massey K, Barron R, et al.. Comparative effectiveness of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors to prevent febrile neutropenia and related complications in cancer patients in clinical practice: A systematic review. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2016. PMID 26769697 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.