Autologous peripheral blood stem and progenitor cells transplantation as a valid treatment approach in recurrent, refractory lymphoma.

Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) is used similarly to autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) to reconstitute bone marrow following myeloablative therapy in patients with proliferative diseases of the blood. Eight patients with recurrent and refractory lymphoma (3 HD, 4 NHL) and multiple myeloma aged 17-55 were included into the study. Peripheral blood stem cells following their prior mobilisation with cyclophosphamide 4-7 g/m2 and/or G-CFS or Dexa-BEAM + G-CSF were collected by subsequent leukaphereses on Fenwal CS3000. Nucleated cells were separated by sedimentation, cryopreserved in a programmed freezer and then stored at-196 degrees C. Bone marrow has been additionally collected in one patient. Conditioning treatment prior to transplantation consisted of BCNU, etoposide and cyclophosphamide (CBV) in lymphomas and melphalan in multiple myeloma. Collected material with mean cellularity 5.52 x 10(8)/kg and mean CD34+ contents 6.27 x 10(6)/kg was reinfused by central line. G-CSF was given in 5 patients to hasten the bone marrow recovery. All patients fully recovered and left hospital on average 35.5 days following transplantation. No signs of relapse were seen throughout the observation period (mean 349.5 days). Neutrophils > 0.5 G/1 were obtained on day + 20, > 1.0 G/1 on day 30, platelets > 50 G/1 on day 29, > 100 G/1 on day 53, reticulocytes > 0.015 on day 30, erythrocytes transfusions were needed up to day 39. Presented outcomes together with other reports indicate, that APBSCT is a highly efficient way to rescue repeatedly relapsing patients with proliferative diseases of the lymphatic systems, even those presenting with changes in the bone marrow (neoplasmatic infiltrate, hypoplasia or fibrosis).