Skip to main content
Top
Published in: European Spine Journal 1/2013

01-01-2013 | Original Article

Intravenous administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for treating neuropathic pain associated with compression myelopathy: a phase I and IIa clinical trial

Authors: Kei Kato, Masashi Yamazaki, Akihiko Okawa, Takeo Furuya, Tsuyoshi Sakuma, Hiroshi Takahashi, Koshiro Kamiya, Taigo Inada, Kazuhisa Takahashi, Masao Koda

Published in: European Spine Journal | Issue 1/2013

Login to get access

Abstract

Objective

To confirm the feasibility and safety of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for treating spinal neuropathic pain associated with compression myelopathy, we have initiated an open-label single-center prospective clinical trial.

Methods

Between January 2009 and February 2011, 17 patients were accrued and were divided into two groups. One group included 7 patients who complained of pain associated with worsening symptoms of myelopathy (progressing myelopathy-related pain group). The other group included 10 patients who complained of pain that persisted after surgery for compression myelopathy (post-operative persistent pain group). All patients underwent intravenous administration of G-CSF (10 μg/kg/day) for 5 consecutive days. Pain severity was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) before and after G-CSF administration.

Results

In 14 of the 17 patients, pain was relieved within several days after G-CSF administration. Pain disappeared completely in 3 patients. In the progressing myelopathy-related pain group, the mean VAS score was 71.4/100 before G-CSF administration, and decreased to 35.9/100 at 1 week after G-CSF administration (p < 0.05). In the post-operative persistent pain group, the mean VAS score was 72.0/100 before G-CSF administration, and decreased to 51.7/100 at 1 week after G-CSF administration (p < 0.05). No severe adverse events occurred during or after G-CSF administration.

Conclusions

The present results provide us with the possibility that G-CSF has a pain-relieving effect for neuropathic pain in patients with compression myelopathy.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Baastrup C, Finnerup NB (2008) Pharmacological management of neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury. CNS Drugs 22:455–475PubMedCrossRef Baastrup C, Finnerup NB (2008) Pharmacological management of neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury. CNS Drugs 22:455–475PubMedCrossRef
2.
go back to reference Cardenas DD, Warms CA, Turner JA et al (2002) Efficacy of amitriptyline for relief of pain in spinal cord injury: results of a randomized controlled trial. Pain 96:365–373PubMedCrossRef Cardenas DD, Warms CA, Turner JA et al (2002) Efficacy of amitriptyline for relief of pain in spinal cord injury: results of a randomized controlled trial. Pain 96:365–373PubMedCrossRef
3.
go back to reference Gibson CL, Jones NC, Prior MJ et al (2005) G-CSF suppresses edema formation and reduces interleukin-1β expression after cerebral ischemia in mice. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 25:431–439PubMedCrossRef Gibson CL, Jones NC, Prior MJ et al (2005) G-CSF suppresses edema formation and reduces interleukin-1β expression after cerebral ischemia in mice. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 25:431–439PubMedCrossRef
4.
go back to reference Kawabe J, Koda M, Hashimoto M et al (2011) Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) exerts neuroprotective effects via promoting angiogenesis after spinal cord injury in rats. J Neurosurg Spine 15:414–421PubMedCrossRef Kawabe J, Koda M, Hashimoto M et al (2011) Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) exerts neuroprotective effects via promoting angiogenesis after spinal cord injury in rats. J Neurosurg Spine 15:414–421PubMedCrossRef
5.
go back to reference Kawada H, Takizawa S, Takanashi T et al (2006) Administration of hematopoietic cytokines in the subacute phase after cerebral infarction is effective for functional recovery facilitating proliferation of intrinsic neural stem/progenitor cells and transition of bone marrow-derived neuronal cells. Circulation 113:701–710PubMedCrossRef Kawada H, Takizawa S, Takanashi T et al (2006) Administration of hematopoietic cytokines in the subacute phase after cerebral infarction is effective for functional recovery facilitating proliferation of intrinsic neural stem/progenitor cells and transition of bone marrow-derived neuronal cells. Circulation 113:701–710PubMedCrossRef
6.
go back to reference Koda M, Nishio Y, Kamada T et al (2007) Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilizes bone marrow-derived cells into injured spinal cord and promotes functional recovery after compression-induced spinal cord injury in mice. Brain Res 1149:223–231PubMedCrossRef Koda M, Nishio Y, Kamada T et al (2007) Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilizes bone marrow-derived cells into injured spinal cord and promotes functional recovery after compression-induced spinal cord injury in mice. Brain Res 1149:223–231PubMedCrossRef
7.
go back to reference Komine-Kobayashi M, Zhang N et al (2006) Neuroprotective effect of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in transient focal ischemia of mice. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 26:402–413PubMedCrossRef Komine-Kobayashi M, Zhang N et al (2006) Neuroprotective effect of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in transient focal ischemia of mice. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 26:402–413PubMedCrossRef
8.
go back to reference Levendoglu F, Ogün CO, Ozerbil O et al (2004) Gabapentin is a first line drug for the treatment of neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury. Spine 29:743–751PubMedCrossRef Levendoglu F, Ogün CO, Ozerbil O et al (2004) Gabapentin is a first line drug for the treatment of neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury. Spine 29:743–751PubMedCrossRef
9.
go back to reference Masaki Y, Yamazaki M, Okawa A et al (2007) An analysis of factors causing poor surgical outcome in patients with cervical myelopathy due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: anterior decompression with spinal fusion versus laminoplasty. J Spinal Disord Tech 20:7–13PubMedCrossRef Masaki Y, Yamazaki M, Okawa A et al (2007) An analysis of factors causing poor surgical outcome in patients with cervical myelopathy due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: anterior decompression with spinal fusion versus laminoplasty. J Spinal Disord Tech 20:7–13PubMedCrossRef
10.
go back to reference New PW, Lim TC, Hill ST et al (2007) A survey of pain during rehabilitation after acute spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 35:658–663CrossRef New PW, Lim TC, Hill ST et al (2007) A survey of pain during rehabilitation after acute spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 35:658–663CrossRef
11.
go back to reference Nicola NA, Metcalf D, Matsumoto M et al (1983) Purification of a factor inducing differentiation in murine myelomonocytic leukemia cells. Identification as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. J Biol Chem 258:9017–9023PubMed Nicola NA, Metcalf D, Matsumoto M et al (1983) Purification of a factor inducing differentiation in murine myelomonocytic leukemia cells. Identification as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. J Biol Chem 258:9017–9023PubMed
12.
go back to reference Nishio Y, Koda M, Kamada T et al (2007) Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor attenuates neuronal death and promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury in mice. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 66:724–731PubMedCrossRef Nishio Y, Koda M, Kamada T et al (2007) Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor attenuates neuronal death and promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury in mice. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 66:724–731PubMedCrossRef
13.
go back to reference Petersen GL, Finnerup NB, Nørskov KN et al (2012) Placebo manipulations reduce hyperalgesia in neuropathic pain. Pain 153:1292–1300PubMedCrossRef Petersen GL, Finnerup NB, Nørskov KN et al (2012) Placebo manipulations reduce hyperalgesia in neuropathic pain. Pain 153:1292–1300PubMedCrossRef
14.
go back to reference Rintala DH, Holmes SA, Courtade D et al (2007) Comparison of the effectiveness of amitriptyline and gabapentin on chronic neuropathic pain in persons with spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 88:1547–1560PubMedCrossRef Rintala DH, Holmes SA, Courtade D et al (2007) Comparison of the effectiveness of amitriptyline and gabapentin on chronic neuropathic pain in persons with spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 88:1547–1560PubMedCrossRef
15.
go back to reference Ro LS, Chen SR, Chao PK et al (2009) The potential application of granulocyte colony stimulating factor therapy on neuropathic pain. Chang Gung Med J 32:235–246PubMed Ro LS, Chen SR, Chao PK et al (2009) The potential application of granulocyte colony stimulating factor therapy on neuropathic pain. Chang Gung Med J 32:235–246PubMed
16.
go back to reference Roberts AW (2005) G-CSF: a key regulator of neutrophil production, but that’s not all! Growth Factors 23:33–41PubMedCrossRef Roberts AW (2005) G-CSF: a key regulator of neutrophil production, but that’s not all! Growth Factors 23:33–41PubMedCrossRef
17.
go back to reference Sakuma T, Yamazaki M, Okawa A et al (2011) Neuroprotective therapy using granulocyte-colony stimulating factor for patients with worsening symptoms of compression myelopathy, part 1: a phase I and IIa clinical trial. Eur Spine J 21:482–489PubMedCrossRef Sakuma T, Yamazaki M, Okawa A et al (2011) Neuroprotective therapy using granulocyte-colony stimulating factor for patients with worsening symptoms of compression myelopathy, part 1: a phase I and IIa clinical trial. Eur Spine J 21:482–489PubMedCrossRef
18.
go back to reference Schäbitz WR, Kollmar R, Schwaninger M et al (2003) Neuroprotective effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor after focal cerebral ischemia. Stroke 34:745–751PubMedCrossRef Schäbitz WR, Kollmar R, Schwaninger M et al (2003) Neuroprotective effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor after focal cerebral ischemia. Stroke 34:745–751PubMedCrossRef
19.
go back to reference Schneider A, Kuhn HG, Schäbitz WR (2005) A role for G-CSF (granulocyte-colony stimulating factor) in the central nervous system. Cell Cycle 4:1753–1757PubMedCrossRef Schneider A, Kuhn HG, Schäbitz WR (2005) A role for G-CSF (granulocyte-colony stimulating factor) in the central nervous system. Cell Cycle 4:1753–1757PubMedCrossRef
20.
go back to reference Siddall PJ, Cousins MJ, Otte A et al (2006) Pregabalin in central neuropathic pain associated with spinal cord injury: a placebo-controlled trial. Neurology 67:1792–1800PubMedCrossRef Siddall PJ, Cousins MJ, Otte A et al (2006) Pregabalin in central neuropathic pain associated with spinal cord injury: a placebo-controlled trial. Neurology 67:1792–1800PubMedCrossRef
21.
go back to reference Störmer S, Gerner HJ, Grüninger W et al (2007) Chronic pain/dysaesthesiae in spinal cord injury patients: results of a multicentre study. Spinal Cord 35:446–455CrossRef Störmer S, Gerner HJ, Grüninger W et al (2007) Chronic pain/dysaesthesiae in spinal cord injury patients: results of a multicentre study. Spinal Cord 35:446–455CrossRef
22.
go back to reference Yamazaki M, Sakuma T, Kato K et al (2012) Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor reduced neuropathic pain associated with thoracic compression myelopathy: report of 2 cases. J Spinal Cord Med (in press) Yamazaki M, Sakuma T, Kato K et al (2012) Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor reduced neuropathic pain associated with thoracic compression myelopathy: report of 2 cases. J Spinal Cord Med (in press)
Metadata
Title
Intravenous administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for treating neuropathic pain associated with compression myelopathy: a phase I and IIa clinical trial
Authors
Kei Kato
Masashi Yamazaki
Akihiko Okawa
Takeo Furuya
Tsuyoshi Sakuma
Hiroshi Takahashi
Koshiro Kamiya
Taigo Inada
Kazuhisa Takahashi
Masao Koda
Publication date
01-01-2013
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Spine Journal / Issue 1/2013
Print ISSN: 0940-6719
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0932
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2556-9

Other articles of this Issue 1/2013

European Spine Journal 1/2013 Go to the issue