Collection of peripheral blood stem cells after a preceding autograft: unfavorable effect of prior interferon-alpha therapy. (57/889)

Eighty-eight previously autografted (78 transplanted twice and 10 once) myeloma patients who had no cryopreserved stem cells available for possible future use received G-CSF for mobilization of stem cells. One-fourth of the patients had progressive disease at the time of apheresis. All patients had received 200 mg/m2 melphalan for the first transplant. The interval between the preceding transplant and the harvest was 5-68 months (median 29). A total of 0.46-9.16 (median 3.03) x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg were collected. More than 2 x 10(6)/kg CD34+ cells were collected in 76% of the patients, and > or = 5 x 10(6)/kg in 14%. On multivariate analysis, patients with platelet counts of > or = 200 x 10(9)/l (P < 0.0001), those who had not received any myelosuppressive chemotherapy between the last transplant and the collection (P = 0.02), and those who had received interferon-alpha for < or = 6 months (P = 0.03) had better collections. Eleven of 12 patients autografted with these cells had prompt neutrophil recovery (median 10 days to 0.5 x 10(9)/l) but recovery to 50 x 10(9)/l platelets was delayed or incomplete in 11 of 12. We conclude that it is possible to harvest peripheral blood stem cells with G-CSF stimulation in patients who have been autografted previously. Limited data suggest that platelet recovery may be suboptimal when these cells are used. These findings have practical implications for patients with malignant diseases in remission after autografting who may be candidates for future salvage therapy but have no stem cells stored, and for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who are on long-term interferon-alpha therapy to attain cytogenetic remission for eventual collection of normal stem cells.  (+info)

Mobilization of peripheral blood progenitor cells in patients with breast cancer: a prospective randomized trial comparing rhG-CSF with the combination of rhG-CSF plus rhEpo after VIP-E chemotherapy. (58/889)

Peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) can be mobilized by chemotherapy, cytokines, or the combination of both. Recently, data from two non-randomized studies were published, showing an advantage for a combination of rhG-CSF plus rhEpo compared to rhG-CSF alone in mobilization of PBPC. To address this question we initiated a prospective, randomized trial in patients with breast cancer. Thirty (28 female, two male) of 32 randomized patients were evaluable. After primary surgery, therapy consisted of two cycles of VIP-E chemotherapy followed by high-dose (HD) chemotherapy with VIC. Mobilization and harvest of PBPC followed cycle 2. Group A received 5 microg rhG-CSF/kg body weight (bw) plus 150 IU rhEpo/kg bw. Group B was treated with 5 microg rhG-CSF/kg bw from dl until end of harvest. In the peripheral blood CD34+ cells as well as colony-forming units (CFU) started to rise on d8 with a peak on d10, followed by a decrease. No significant differences were observed between the groups. Furthermore, there was no significant difference with regard to MNC, CD34+ cells BFU-E and CFU-GM in apheresis products. Transplantation of > 1 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg bw after HD chemotherapy resulted in normal hematological recovery of all patients. No differences were observed in time to neutrophil or platelet recovery and need for blood product support. In this study addition of rhEpo to our standard mobilization chemotherapy did not result in improved mobilization of PBPC or in clinical benefits after HD chemotherapy.  (+info)

Collection of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) based on a rising WBC and platelet count significantly increases the number of CD34+ cells. (59/889)

The kinetics of mobilization and optimal timing of peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) collection were evaluated in 190 patients with multiple myeloma undergoing stem cell harvest after mobilization with cyclophosphamide, prednisone and G-CSF. There was a strong correlation between the WBC count and the number of CD34+ cells circulating in peripheral blood (r = 0.875). Initiating leukapheresis based on rising WBC and platelet counts rather than on a fixed day increased the mean number of CD34+ cells 115% (9.7 to 20.9 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg; P = 0.010) for the total of all leukaphereses and 59% for the total of all CD34-selected products (5.1 to 8.1 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg; P = 0.011). Although the yield and purity of the CD34-selected product were not significantly affected (P > or = 0.071), the percentage of patients with concentrations of CD34+ cells in the initial leukapheresis of > 1% increased from 47% to 70% (P = 0.004). The mean purity of the selected product was related to the starting percentage: 48.9% if < 1% and 81.5% if > or = 1% (P < 0.001). Collection of stem cells based on rising WBC and platelet counts significantly increased the number of CD34+ cells in leukaphereses and CD34-selected products in comparison with collection on a fixed day.  (+info)

LDH elevation after autologous stem cell transplantation. (60/889)

We have anecdotally noted that serum LDH values rise after the infusion of autologous peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs), presumably the result of cellular lysis. To further study this issue, we retrospectively reviewed 203 consecutive patients undergoing autologous PBPC transplant from August 1996 to December 1997. 194 patients were evaluable, having documented LDH values on day -1 to day +5 post-transplant. All patients received cytokine mobilization for PBPC collection, and 99% received a chemotherapy-only preparative regimen. 99% of patients had a rise in serum LDH after PBPC infusion. 76% had a normal LDH prior to PBPC infusion that became abnormally high after infusion; 22% began with an abnormally high value that became higher with the infusion of PBPCs. The LDH rose at least 50% in 91% of patients. 92% of the patients had their peak LDH value occur on day +1 post-transplant. The total dose of CD34+ cells infused negatively correlated with peak percentage change of LDH (P = 0.0007). This result was initially perplexing, as we believed that a higher number of infused cells would correlate with a higher LDH value as a result of in vivo cellular lysis. However, the total number of CD34+ cells also negatively correlated with the number of phereses required to collect our threshold of 2.0 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg (P = 0.0001). After adjusting for CD34+ cell dose, we found that the number of phereses correlated highly with a peak percentage of change of LDH (P = 0.001). We conclude that the serum LDH increases universally after autologous PBPC infusion, peaking on day +1. We believe that this rise in serum LDH is a result of cell lysis that occurs ex vivo, and correlates with the number of pheresis procedures required to collect an adequate number of CD34+ cells. This may be a result of increasing red blood cell contamination with more phereses, and resultant RBC hemolysis.  (+info)

Stem cell factor in combination with filgrastim after chemotherapy improves peripheral blood progenitor cell yield and reduces apheresis requirements in multiple myeloma patients: a randomized, controlled trial. (61/889)

Stem cell factor (SCF) has been shown to synergize with filgrastim to mobilize CD34(+) cells into the peripheral blood. To determine if addition of SCF to chemotherapy and filgrastim reduces the number of leukaphereses required to achieve a target yield of 5 x 10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg, 102 patients with multiple myeloma were randomized to receive mobilization chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide (4 g/m(2)) and either SCF (20 micrograms/kg/d) combined with filgrastim (5 micrograms/kg/d) or filgrastim alone (5 micrograms/kg/d), administered daily until leukaphereses were completed. After collection, patients were treated with myeloablative therapy supported by autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) infusion and filgrastim (5 micrograms/kg/d). There was a significant difference between the treatment groups in the number of leukaphereses required to collect 5 x 10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg (median of 1 v 2 for SCF + filgrastim and filgrastim alone, respectively, P =.008). Patients receiving the combination of SCF plus filgrastim had a 3-fold greater chance of reaching 5 x 10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg in a single leukapheresis compared with patients mobilized with filgrastim alone. The median CD34(+) cell yield was significantly increased for the SCF group in the first leukapheresis (11.3 v 4.0 x 10(6)/kg, P =.003) and all leukaphereses (12.4 v 8.2 x 10(6)/kg, P =.007). Total colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and mononuclear cell counts were also significantly higher in the SCF group in the first leukapheresis and in all leukaphereses. As expected for patients mobilized to an optimal CD34(+) cell yield, the time to engraftment was similar between the 2 treatment groups. Cells mobilized with the combination of SCF plus filgrastim were thus considered effective and safe for achieving rapid engraftment. Treatment with SCF plus filgrastim was well tolerated, with mild to moderate injection site reactions being the most frequently reported adverse events. There were no serious allergic-like reactions to SCF. The addition of SCF to filgrastim after cyclophosphamide for PBPC mobilization resulted in a significant increase in CD34(+) cell yield and a concomitant reduction in the number of leukaphereses required to collect an optimal harvest of 5 x 10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg.  (+info)

Autografting of highly purified peripheral blood progenitor cells following myeloablative therapy in patients with lymphoma: a prospective study of the long-term effects on tumor eradication, reconstitution of hematopoiesis and immune recovery. (62/889)

In a prospective study, we have investigated CD34+ selection of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) for autotransplantation in patients with lymphoma. Twenty-six consecutive patients (10 follicular lymphomas, seven mantle cell lymphomas, seven B-CLL, two immunocytomas) were mobilized using chemotherapy plus G-CSF. Sufficient numbers of PBPC could be collected from 24 patients and were immunoselected with the semiautomated Isolex 300 (n = 17) or the fully integrated Isolex 300i (n = 7) devices. The selection products were assayed by PCR amplification of clonal CDRIII or t(14;18) rearrangements for residual tumor cell content. Residual disease and long-term hematopoietic and immune recovery were studied by assessing the following parameters at 3, 6, and 12 months post-transplant: CDRIII or t(14;18) PCR, platelet count, lymphocyte subsets, serum IgG, serum IgA, and measles titer. With the Isolex 300 device 26% (10-65) of input CD34+ cells were recovered with a median purity of 89.2% (49.4-98.9) after CD34+ selection. The Isolex 300i device allowed significantly better recoveries (46% (22-86)) and purities of CD34+ cells (98.8% (92.2-99.2)). The overall purging efficacy was 3.2 (0.6-5.1) log. Twenty patients have been reinfused with CD34+ selected grafts after myeloablative preparation. Rapid engraftment occurred in all patients. With a median follow-up of 28 (19-42) months, 14 patients are alive without clinical or molecular evidence of disease recurrence, whereas five have relapsed and one additional patient shows persistent presence of the disease-specific molecular marker without clinical progression. Cellular and serological parameters of hematopoietic and immune functions were largely normal at 12 months post-transplant including the measles titer which was present in all patients. Kinetics of immunohematopoietic recovery were similar to those of 12 control patients who had received unmanipulated PBPC during the same time period except for the recovery of CD4+ CD45RA+ T cells which was significantly delayed in the CD34+ group. During the first year post-transplant, transient monoclonal or oligoclonal gammopathies were observed in seven of 16 study patients. We conclude that CD34+ selection with the Isolex system allows preparation of highly purified CD34+ fractions and effective tumor cell depletion. The CD34+ products can be reinfused safely after myeloablative treatment and result in sustained hematopoietic and immune recovery. The fact that all patients retained their specific measles immunity suggests that myeloablative treatment with reinfusion of highly purified CD34+ PBPC is not immunoablative.  (+info)

Autologous CD34+ cells transplantation after FAMP treatment in a patient with CLL and persisting AIHA: complete remission of lymphoma with control of autoimmune complications. (63/889)

A 48-year-old male with CLL and concomitant AIHA unresponsive to chlorambucil was treated with fludarabine. The remission of CLL and improvement of the AIHA was achieved, but the patient remained steroid dependent. Therefore, high-dose chemotherapy followed by CD34-selected autologous peripheral blood stem cells transplantation was performed and this led to long-term clinical, immunophenotypic and molecular remission with disappearance of AIHA. Twenty-three months later, the CLL recurred with signs of AIHA. In this patient with AIHA, HDC and selected CD34+ cells completely, though temporarily, controlled both CLL and associated immune complications. This case illustrates the potential application of this approach in the management of CLL patients with immune complications.  (+info)

Short-term, serum-free, static culture of cord blood-derived CD34+ cells: effects of FLT3-L and MIP-1alpha on in vitro expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells. (64/889)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The use of ex vivo expanded cells has been suggested as a possible means to accelerate the speed of engraftment in cord blood (CB) transplantation. The aim of this study was to fix the optimal condition for the generation of committed progenitors without affecting the stem cell compartment. DESIGN AND METHODS: Analysis of the effects of FLT3-L and MIP-1alpha when combined with SCF, IL-3 and IL-6, in short-term (6 days), serum-free expansion cultures of CB-selected CD34+ cells. RESULTS: An important expansion was obtained that ranged between 8-15 times for CFU-GM, 21-51 times for the BFU-E/CFU-Mix population and 11 to 30 times for CD34+ cells assessed by flow cytometry. From the combinations tested, those in which FLT3-L was present had a significant increase in the expansion of committed progenitors, while the presence of MIP-1alpha had a detrimental effect on the generation of more differentiated cells. However, stem cell candidates assessed by week 5 CAFC assay could be maintained in culture when both MIP-1a and FLT3-L were present (up to 91% recovery). This culture system was also able to expand megakaryocytic precursors as determined by the co-expression of CD34 and CD61 antigens (45-70 times), in spite of the use of cytokines non-specific for the megakaryocytic lineage. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained point to the combination of SCF, IL-3, IL-6, FLT3-L and MIP-1alpha as the best suited for a pre-clinical short-term serum-free static ex vivo expansion protocol of CB CD34+ cells, since it can generate large numbers of committed progenitor cells as well as maintaining week 5 CAFC.  (+info)