granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

Definition of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

(GRAN-yoo-loh-SITE KAH-luh-nee-STIM-yoo-LAY-ting FAK-ter)
A drug used under the brand names Neupogen, Zarxio, and Nivestym to treat neutropenia (a lower-than-normal number of white blood cells), prevent infection, and prepare the blood for the collection of certain types of blood cells, and under the brand name Granix to treat neutropenia. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is used in patients who have certain cancers and neutropenia caused by some types of chemotherapy and in patients who have severe chronic neutropenia that is not caused by cancer treatment. It is also used before an autologous stem cell transplant. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor helps the bone marrow make more white blood cells. It is a type of colony-stimulating factor. Also called filgrastim and G-CSF.

Source: NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms