Mobilization characteristics, blood graft composition, and outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after autologous stem cell transplantation: Results from the prospective multicenter GOA study.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a common indication for autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This prospective noninterventional study aimed to evaluate the impact of mobilization characteristics and graft cellular content on hematologic recovery and outcome after auto-SCT among 68 patients with DLBCL. RESULTS: Better mobilization capacity as manifested by blood CD34+ cell count >32 × 106 /L and CD34+ cell yield of the first apheresis >2.75 × 106 /kg correlated with faster neutrophil (P = .005 and P = .017) and platelet (P = .002 and P < .001) recovery. A higher number of infused CD34+ cells (> 2.65 × 106 /kg) was associated with better 5-year overall survival (OS; 95% vs 67%, P = .012). The graft CD34+ CD133+ CD38- cell count >0.07 × 106 /kg was predictive of better 5-year OS (87% vs 63%; P = .008) and higher graft CD3+ cell count (>23.1 × 106 /kg) correlated also with better 5-year OS (80% vs 40%, P = .008). In multivariate analysis only disease status of CR I at auto-SCT was associated with better progression-free survival (P = .014) and OS (P = .039). CONCLUSION: The mobilization capacity of CD34+ cells impacted on early hematologic recovery in patients with DLBCL after auto-SCT. Higher graft CD34+ cell count and both CD34+ CD133+ CD38- and CD3+ cells were also associated with better OS. The effect of optimal graft cellular composition on outcome in DLBCL should be evaluated in a randomized study.

A prospective comparison of pegfilgrastim and lipegfilgrastim combined with chemotherapy in the mobilization of CD34+ cells in NHL patients.

BACKGROUND: Autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) is a treatment approach in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients. The options for mobilization of CD34+ cells to support high-dose therapy are granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSFs) alone or after chemotherapy. Limited data exist on the efficacy of lipegfilgrastim (LIPEG) in the mobilization field. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present prospective nonrandomized study compared LIPEG 6 mg (n = 40) with pegfilgrastim (PEG) 6 mg (n = 37) in the mobilization of blood CD34+ cells after chemotherapy in NHL patients with comparable mobilizing chemotherapy and disease status before auto-SCT. RESULTS: Significantly higher blood CD34+ cell (B-CD34+ ) counts were observed in the LIPEG group at the start of the first apheresis (44 vs 23 × 106 /L, P = .009), in line with a higher collection yield of the first apheresis (3.3 vs 2.1 × 106 /kg, P = .086) and total yield of CD34+ cells (4.7 vs 2.9 × 106 /kg, P = .004). LIPEG proved to be a more effective G-CSF, resulting in a higher B-CD34+ cell peak (60 vs 32 × 106 /L, P = .030) and higher proportion of excellent mobilizers (33% vs 8%, P = .008). The superiority of LIPEG was confirmed in the multivarite analysis concerning the CD34+ cell yield of the first apheresis day (P = .010) and the total yield (P = .001). CONCLUSION: The mobilization of blood grafts with LIPEG added to chemotherapy was associated with higher CD34+ cell apheresis yields than with PEG. A randomized study is warranted to verify these findings.

Efficacy of pre-emptively used plerixafor in patients mobilizing poorly after chemomobilization: a single centre experience.

A significant proportion of patients with lymphoid malignancies are hard-to-mobilize with a combination of chemotherapy plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (chemomobilization). Plerixafor is a novel drug used to improve mobilization of blood stem cells. However, it has been studied mainly in association with G-CSF mobilization. We evaluated the efficacy of 'pre-emptive' use of plerixafor after chemomobilization in patients who seem to mobilize poorly. During a 15 month period, altogether 63 patients with lymphoid malignancies were admitted to our department for blood stem cell collection. Sixteen patients (25%) received plerixafor after the first mobilization due to the low blood (B) CD34(+) cell counts (n = 12) or poor yield of the first collection (n = 4). The median number of plerixafor injections was 1 (1-3). The median B-CD34(+) count after the first plerixafor dose was 39 × 10(6) /L (<1-81) with the median increase of fivefold. Stem cell aphaereses were performed in 14/16 patients (88%) receiving plerixafor and a median of 2.9 × 10(6) /kg (1.6-6.1) CD34(+) cells were collected with a median of one aphaeresis (1-3). Altogether 13/16 patients mobilized with a combination of chemomobilization and plerixafor received high-dose therapy with stem cell support and all engrafted. Pre-emptive use of plerixafor after chemomobilization is efficient and safe and should be considered in poor mobilizers to avoid collection failure. In patients with low but rising B-CD34(+) counts, the use of plerixafor might be delayed as late mobilization may occur. Further studies are needed to optimize patient selection and timing of plerixafor.