In these studies, recombinant granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) was administered to patients with metastatic breast cancer to increase the number of circulating stem cells.
This open label trial randomised 235 women with metastatic breast cancer to receive either high-dose epirubicin 150 mg/m<sup>2</sup> and cyclophosphamide 1500 mg/m<sup>2</sup> with filgrastim support every 3 weeks for 3 cycles (HDEC) or standard dose epirubicin 75 mg/m<sup>2</sup> and cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m<sup>2</sup> every 3 weeks for 6 cycles (SDEC).