colony-stimulating factors
(kahl-on-ee stim-yoo-late ing fak-tirz)
Substances that stimulate the production of blood cells. Colony-stimulating factors include granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (also called G-CSF and filgrastim), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors (also called GM-CSF and sargramostim), and promegapoietin.
Neulasta (chemical name: pegfilgrastim) and Neupogen (chemical name: filgrastim) are two granulocyte colony-stimulating factors.
Audio contributed by: Marisa Weiss, M.D.