Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation after high-dose therapy in patients with malignant lymphoma: a retrospective comparison with autologous bone marrow transplantation.

Abstract

We report the results of peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) harvesting in 22 patients with lymphoma who underwent leucapheresis after cells were mobilised using 3 g/m2 cyclophosphamide and G-CSF. In 19 patients, the total CFU-GM collected was greater than 7.5 x 10(4)/kg. These patients underwent successful autologous PBPC transplantation. This group of patients was compared to a historical group of 24 patients with lymphoma who underwent ABMT with the same conditioning chemotherapy. The time to engraftment of neutrophils to 0.5 x 10(9)/l was significantly reduced (median 11 days vs 19 days, P < 0.0001) and consequently in-patient stay was reduced (median 21 days vs 28 days, P < 0.001). Blood product support (median 3 vs 4 units blood, P = 0.02; median 15 vs 40 units platelets, P = 0.005) and use of TPN (median 0 days vs 8 days, P < 0.001) were reduced. We estimate a saving of approximately pounds 2370 per patient using PBPC for autologous transplantation compared to bone marrow progenitor cells. This saving is significant (P < 0.001).