About this policy
Pegfilgrastim is a white blood cell growth factor with labeled use to decrease the incidence of infection (as manifested by febrile neutropenia), in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies receiving myelosuppressive cancer chemotherapy associated with a clinically significant incidence of febrile neutropenia. 1 The FDA label recommends administration starting 24 hours after the completion of chemotherapy. To improve compliance and convenience for patients by not having to return 24 hours after chemotherapy for administration there is an interest in same day administration. A survey of physicians who administer pegfilgrastim reported that 31.6% were treated on a “same-day” schedule utilizing patient related considerations in the decision such as patient/caregiver travel distance and practice related consideration such as burden on the practice for next day administration as determining factors. 2 A double blinded phase two non-inferiority study (n=266) concludes non-inferiority of same day administration, but while not statistically significant an increase in neutropenia within the same day administration group as compared to next day administration group was reported. This lead to the authors conclusion to recommendation for administration according to the FDA label. 3 Multiple retrospective studies support safety and efficacy of same day administration, but also trending to non-statistically significant increase in side effects with same day administration. 4-6 A systematic review including four randomized or single arm prospective studies and seven retrospective studies support administration at least one day after chemotherapy. 7 NCCN guidelines state that pegfilgrastim same day administered the day after myelosuppressive chemotherapy is supported by category one evidence, however there is data for and against same day dosing and the FDA approved dosing schedule is still recommended. 8 Pegfiligrastim is recommended to be given according to FDA approved dosing schedule. NGS will consider same day administration when patient/caregiver circumstances create a significant barrier to compliance, such as lack of transportation to return for dosing within recommended time frame. NGS expects clear documentation for same day administration to be in the medical record and available upon request. References: Lexi-Drugs. Pegfilgrastim. https://online.lexi.com/lco/action/doc/retrieve/docid/patch_f/7446?cesid=0knhsFEk1hS&searchUrl=%2Flco%2Faction%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DPegfilgastrim%26t%3Dname%26va%3DPegfilgastrim . Accessed 5/1//2022. Marion S, Tzivelekis, S., Darden, C. et al. . “Same-Day” administration of pegfilgrastim following myelosuppressive chemotherapy: clinical practice and provider rationale. Support Care Cancer 2016:3886-3896. Burris HA BC, Kaufman PA, et al. . Pegfilgrastim on the same day versus next day of chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and non-hodgkin's lymphoma: results of four multicenter, double-blind, randomized phase II studies. J Oncol Pract. 2010;6(2):133-140. Schuman SI LN, Robson K, et al. . Pegfilgrastim dosing on same day as myelosuppressive chemotherapy for ovarian or primary peritoneal cancer. . J Support Oncol. 2009;7(6):225-228. Whitworth JM MK, Shipman KA, Numnum TM, Kendrick JE, Kilgore LC, Straughn JM. . The safety and efficacy of day 1 versus day 2 administration of pegfilgrastim in patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy for gynecologic malignancies. Gynecol Oncol 2009;112:601-604. McBride A, Alrawashdh, N., Bartels, T., Moore, L., Persky, D., & Abraham. Same-day versus next-day pegfilgrastim or pegfilgrastim-cbqv in patients with lymphoma receiving CHOP-like chemotherapy. . Future oncology (London, England). (2021;17(26):3485–3497. Lyman GH, Allcott, K., Garcia, J. et al. . The effectiveness and safety of same-day versus next-day administration of long-acting granulocyte colony-stimulating factors for the prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia: a systematic review. . Support Care Cancer 2017;25:2619-2929. Oncology NCPGi. Hematopoietic Growth Factors Version 1.2022. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/growthfactors.pdf . Accessed 5/9/2022.
Codes in this policy
Code numbers and each code’s status as the policy records it. CPT code descriptions are left out of this page, as are the passages that cite CPT codes; the official document has them.
| Code | Code system | Status in this policy |
|---|---|---|
| J2506 | HCPCS | Covered |