Overview of the role of hematopoietic growth factors in bone marrow transplant recovery and bone marrow transplant failure.

Morbidity of bone marrow transplantation has been reduced by the prophylactic use of myeloid stimulating growth factors. Trials are current exploring the usage of hematopoietic growth factors in a variety of other potential clinical applications in bone marrow transplantations. These include stimulation of multipotent progenitor cells, enhancement of monocyte macrophage function, enhancement of lymphocyte function, and alteration of inflammatory mediators which are causal of nonhematologic toxicities of bone marrow transplantation. Hematopoietic growth factors, factors which induce production of stimulatory cytokines and/or factors which alter inflammatory pathways, may be effective in improving the tolerability of patients undergoing bone marrow transplant.