Pegfilgrastim and Bone Pain: Timing Matters

Pegfilgrastim is recommended in patients at high risk for developing chemotherapy-associated febrile neutropenia, but it can cause severe, persistent bone pain. Researchers are now evaluating whether adjusting the timing of administration could reduce the incidence of this pain. Current guidelines recommend administering the drug anywhere from 1 to 4 days after chemotherapy, allowing for flexibility in practice. In this study, 160 patients with stage I–III breast cancer were randomized to receive pegfilgrastim at 24, 48, or 72 hours after chemotherapy.