Comparison of CD34+ cell mobilization, blood graft cellular composition, and post-transplant outcome in myeloma patients mobilized with filgrastim or pegfilgrastim added to low-dose cyclophosphamide: A prospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Scarce data exist on the impact of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) type on the mobilizing capacity of CD34+ cells, graft cellular composition, and outcome in myeloma (MM) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective multicenter study, 70 patients with MM received filgrastim (FIL) and 20 patients received pegfilgrastim (PEG) as a G-CSF after low-dose cyclophosphamide. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the mobilization of CD34+ cells and cellular composition of blood grafts, hematologic recovery, and survival after auto-SCT according to the G-CSF choice. RESULTS: The CD34+ cell yield of the first apheresis was higher in the FIL group (5.3 vs. 4.2 × 106 /kg, p = .025). The better mobilizing capacity was observed in the FIL group especially after bortezomib-based induction based on the higher first apheresis yield of CD34+ cells (7.5 vs. 4.4 × 106 /kg, p = .001). The median CD19+ cell count (1.0 vs. 0.4 × 106 /kg, p = .010) and the number of CD3+ T lymphocytes (43.1 vs. 31.8 × 106 /kg, p = .122) in the infused graft were higher in the patients mobilized with FIL. Both early (day +15) (56 vs. 108 × 109 /L, p = .002) and later platelet recovery at 6 months (191 vs. 226 × 109 /L, p = .026) were faster in the PEG group. CONCLUSION: G-CSF type seems to impact on the mobilization capacity and cellular composition of infused graft and also platelet recovery post-transplant. A randomized study might be warranted to verify the effects of G-CSF choice in the mobilization field.

A prospective comparison of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and radionuclide ventriculography in the assessment of cardiac function in patients treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: To compare cardiac MRI and radionuclide ventriculography (RVG) in cardiac monitoring during anthracycline (doxorubicin)-based chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 10 previously untreated adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was assessed by MRI and RVG simultaneously. In addition, left ventricular (LV) and left atrial size were determined by MRI. Both MRI and RVG measurements were determined at baseline and then repeated after eight cycles of CHOP chemotherapy (cumulative doxorubicin dose of 400 mg/m²). Power calculations were made on the basis of reproducibility measurements. RESULTS: Clinical heart failure was not observed in any patient during the study. MRI detected a statistically significant increase in LV end-diastolic volume (128 ± 39 vs. 151 ± 46 ml, P<0.05) and LV mass (119 ± 32 vs. 146 ± 49 g, P<0.05) after doxorubicin therapy but no change in LVEF (46 ± 8 vs. 47 ± 11%, P=NS) or left atrial area. A significant LVEF reduction compared with baseline was observed by RVG (61 ± 10 vs. 50 ± 6%, P<0.01). On average, MRI resulted in 7 ± 10% lower LVEF values compared with RVG. CONCLUSION: RVG seems to be a valuable and repeatable tool in detecting early, subclinical deterioration in cardiac function and is the method of choice in the follow-up of LV function during anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Whether LV volumetric and mass changes found in MRI could predict later significant permanent cardiac damage should be evaluated in larger studies with long-term follow-up.