ABSTRACT
In this review, we analyse the peripheral blood progenitor cell mobilization yield of three categories of subjects including group 1, healthy allogeneic donors given growth factors; group 2, patients with haematological malignancies mobilized with chemotherapy followed by growth factors; and group 3, patients with solid tumours mobilized with growth factors alone. A wide variation amongst subjects of the same category was observed. Group 1 and group 2 patients mobilized to a similar degree with a mean CD34(+) yield/kg of 3.44 x 10(6) and 3.39 x 10(6) respectively, for a standardized 2. 5 times blood volumes processed. This is superior to group 3 patients mobilized with growth factors alone who yielded only 0.99 x 10(6)/kg. A good correlation between peripheral blood CD34(+) count and leukapheresis yield was observed for all three groups. For healthy donors, prescheduled leukapheresis on day 5 after growth factors commencement predicts good yield, obviating the need for CD34 monitoring. On the contrary, most cancer patients mobilized with growth factors alone as in group 3 have inadequate single collection. They invariably require cumulative yield of several collections for adequate dose and hence predicting timing with peripheral blood CD34(+) count is not useful. In group 2 patients mobilized with chemotherapy followed by growth factors, we find that a peripheral blood CD34(+) count of 11/microL predicts collection of more than 1 x 10(6) CD34(+) cell/kg/2.5 blood volumes, thus helping to maximize yield and resources. J. Clin. Apheresis, 15:217-223, 2000.
