Successful autologous transplantation with peripheral blood hemopoietic cells in a patient with acute leukemia.

One patient with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) in remission was given intensive chemotherapy (DAT regimen) as late intensification treatment. Seven leukaphereses were performed during the period of marrow recovery following aplasia induced by the DAT regimen. High numbers of nucleated cells (7.8 X 10(8)/kg) and granulocyte-macrophage precursors (9.5 X 10(4)/kg) were collected and then cryopreserved and stored in liquid nitrogen. When he relapsed, the patient was treated with etoposide (600 mg/m2), cyclophosphamide (120 mg/kg), and total body irradiation (1000 rad), followed by the transfusion of thawed autologous leukocytes. The time to reach 0.5 X 10(9) granulocytes/liter and 50 X 10(9) platelets/liter was 16 and 35 days, respectively. This observation demonstrates that circulating hemopoietic stem cells are capable of complete hemopoietic reconstitution after marrow-ablative therapy with supralethal doses of chemoradiotherapy.