January 11, 2007. A growth-factor drug commonly used to help cancer patients maintain levels of infection-fighting white blood cells during and after chemotherapy may stimulate growth of tumors in bones, a new study says.

The growth factor, called granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is known by the trade names Neupogen, Neulasta and Granocyte.

G-CSF’s detrimental effect on bone tumors may be cancelled out by adding a bisphosphonate to the treatment.

These findings come from a study by researchers in St. Louis and bear out research years ago that showed that G-CSF weakens bone.

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