Preclinical and clinical evaluation of recombinant human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhM-CSF).

The promise of hematopoietic growth factors is now being realized as clinical trials become more mature. The uses of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor are now becoming more established in therapeutic applications of disease states. A variety of new hematopoietic growth factors is on the horizon, including recombinant human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhM-CSF), which has recently entered clinical trials after extensive preclinical testing. The diverse biological actions of rhM-CSF will provide novel ways of approaching various medical problems across the disciplines of hematology, oncology, infectious disease and cardiology.