Randomized trial of influenza vaccine with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor or placebo in cancer patients.

Purpose: To determine whether granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) would improve response to influenza vaccination in cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: In a randomized, patient-blinded, placebo-controlled trial carried out in 1997 to 2000, 133 patients were stratified into five groups of treatment and disease. Single doses of standard split trivalent influenza vaccine and either placebo or 250 micro g of GM-CSF were administered at the same time.