Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42599616›Full record

ArticleBreast cancer (Tokyo, Japan)2026

Risk of febrile neutropenia in breast cancer chemotherapy despite the prophylactic use of pegfilgrastim: a retrospective analysis.

Hiroki Kusama, Yoshiya Horimoto, Kyoko Iwai, Yuki Kitaoku, Fujina Takeda, Ryo Hamaoka, Minami Iwai, Mizuki Mizuuchi, Tomoka Ushio, Kyoko Orimoto and 1 more

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Article in Breast cancer (Tokyo, Japan), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Hiroki KusamaDepartment of Breast Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan. kusama.hiroki.8j@tokyo-med.ac.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2163-7989
Yoshiya HorimotoDepartment of Breast Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8935-0768
Kyoko IwaiDepartment of Breast Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan.
Yuki KitaokuDepartment of Breast Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan.
Fujina TakedaDepartment of Breast Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan.
Ryo HamaokaDepartment of Breast Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan.
Minami IwaiDepartment of Breast Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan.
Mizuki MizuuchiDepartment of Breast Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan.
Tomoka UshioDepartment of Breast Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan.
Kyoko OrimotoDepartment of Breast Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2194-1518
Takashi IshikawaDepartment of Breast Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3450-4533

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

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.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsBreast NeoplasmsChemotherapy-Induced Febrile NeutropeniaFebrile NeutropeniaFilgrastimPolyethylene GlycolsAdultAgedFemaleHumansIncidenceMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsFilgrastimpegfilgrastimPolyethylene GlycolsBreast cancerFebrile neutropeniaPegfilgrastimPredictive factors

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.