Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cell Collection during Hematopoietic Recovery following Autologous Blood Progenitor Cell Transplantation

Background and objectives: Peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) are increasingly used for autologous transplantation after high-dose radio/chemotherapy in patients suffering from cancer. PBPC are usually collected after mobilization with conventional-dose chemotherapy plus growth factor. However, it is conceivable to perform leukapheresis for the second autograft during recovery of hematopoiesis after the first course of HDCT/ABPCT. Materials and methods: We treated two patients this way. In the first, with germ cell cancer, six 12-liter leukaphereses yielded 1.8×10⁶ CD34+ cells/kg after mobilization with cis-platinum, etoposide and ifosfamide (PEI) plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). The second patient, with relapsed Hodgkin's disease, underwent PBPC collection after treatment with dexamethasone, carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan (DexaBEAM) plus G-CSF. Due to excellent mobilization, 8.5×10⁶ CD34+ cells/kg were collected by one 12-liter leukapheresis. Both patients then underwent PBPC collection during hematopoietic recovery following HDCT and ABPCT. Results: In patient 1, following HDCT and ABPCT, three 12-liter aphereses resulted in 0.7×10⁶ CD34+ cells/kg. In patient 2, also after HDCT and ABPCT, a second autograft with 3.2×10⁶ CD34+ cells/kg was harvested by a single 10-liter apheresis. No adverse effects were seen in either patient during apheresis following ABPCT. To our knowledge this is the first report dealing with PBCT collection during hematopoietic recovery following HDCT and ABPCT. Conclusions: (1) PBPC harvesting is feasible and well tolerated in this setting. (2) In appropriate patients with efficient PBPC mobilization after conventional-dose chemotherapy, a further PBPC autograft can be collected during recovery of hematopoiesis after ABPCT, serving as a rescue for a second course of HDCT.     

Efficient Ex Vivo Generation of Human Dendritic Cells from Mobilized CD34p+ Peripheral Blood Progenitors

We tried to efficiently generate human dendritic cells (DCs) from CD34+ peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitor cells mobilized by high-dose chemotherapy and subsequent administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, using a liquid suspension culture system. Among various combinations, the combination of c-kit ligand, flt-3 ligand, c-mpl ligand (TPO), and interleukin (IL)-4 most potently generated the number of CD1a+CD14- DCs in cultures containing granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). The delayed addition of IL-4 on day 6 of culture gave rise to an additional increase in the yield of CD1a+CD14-DCs that were characterized by the expression of HLA-ABC, HLA-DR, CD80, CD86, and CD83. The majority of the sorted CD1a-CD14+ cells derived from 6-day culture of CD34+ cells gave rise to CD1a+CD14- DCs and CD1a-CD14+ macrophages on day 12 of culture in the presence and absence of IL-4, respectively. These findings suggest that IL-4 promotes the differentiation of CD1a- CD14+ cells derived from mobilized CD34+ peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitors to CD1a+ CD14- DCs. The majority of these DCs expressed CD68 but not the Langerhans-associated granule antigen, a finding that suggests they emerge through the monocyte differentiation pathway. The addition of TPO and IL-4 to cultures did not affect the potential of DCs to stimulate the primary allogeneic T-cell response. These findings demonstrated that the combination of c-kit ligand plus flt-3 ligand plus TPO with GM-CSF plus TNF-alpha, followed by IL-4, is useful for ex vivo generation of human DCs from mobilized CD34+ peripheral blood progenitors.     

Changes in Platelet Demand in Association with the Spread of Autologous Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cell Transplantation

Abstract: Changes in platelet demand accompanying widespread application of autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation (APBPCT) were anticipated. The differences in the transfused volume of platelet concentrate (PC) among 8 patients with malignant lymphoma who were treated with APBPCT and 10 patients with malignant lymphoma who were not treated with APBPCT, although peripheral blood progenitor cell harvests had been performed, were studied. The former was 81 Japanese PC units more than the latter. Considering the supplied volume of PC from Red Cross blood centers and the number of APBPCTs in 1996 in Japan, the Japanese demand for PC increases by 0.16% for enforced APBPCT versus 0.36%, which includes the PC demand necessary in all treatment courses. The total increment in PC demand associated with APBPCT is not large enough to threaten the PC supply of Japan even if the number of APBPCTs increases rapidly.     

Graft Failure Due to Hemophagocytic Syndrome After Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation

Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can occasionally cause graft failure. We describe a female patient with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with graft failure due to HPS 12 days after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Autologous PBSCT was carried out during unconfirmed/uncertain complete remission according to the Cotswolds classification after 6 cycles of biweekly (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone) therapy and 3 courses of salvage chemotherapy including etoposide. The patient developed a high fever on day 2 post-PBSCT. Her white blood cell count rose to 0.9 x 10(9)/L on day 10 post-PBSCT, but then began to decrease. A bone marrow aspirate on day 12 post-PBSCT revealed an increase in the number of benign histiocytes with hemophagocytosis, and the patient was diagnosed with HPS. Although high-dose methylprednisolone therapy was continued, her white blood cell count further decreased to 0.3 x 10(9)/L, and the patient died of multiple organ failure on day 29 post-PBSCT. A computed tomography scan did not identify recurrent NHL, and necropsy specimens from the bone marrow, liver, and kidney revealed no neoplastic infiltration. Bone marrow necropsy showed marked hypocellularity with active histiocytic hemophagocytosis. HPS may have been induced by infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus rather than by lymphoma-associated HPS.     

Characterization of Clonogenic Progenitors in Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Grafts: Evaluation of a Simple In Vitro Assay Suitable for Routine Clinical Use

Autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation has a low treatment-related morbidity and mortality when using appropriate criteria for patient selection and graft quality evaluation. It will be important to use simple and standardised procedures for evaluation of progenitor cell numbers when considering autografting in patients with malignant or non-malignant disorders and increased risk of prolonged posttransplant cytopenia. We determined the number of clonogenic cells in PBSC autografts after 7 days of In Vitro culture, and these results were compared with both the total number of colonies and the numbers of colony subsets in conventional 14 days colony assays (colony-forming unit granulocyte-erythrocyte-macrophage-megakaryocyte, CFU-GEMM; CFU-E, CFU-GM; CFU-megakaryocyte). The total colony number after 7 days of culture correlated significantly with (i) the CD34₊ cell number; (ii) the total colony number as well as the numbers of erythroid, nonerythroid and mixed colonies in a conventional assay using 14 days of culture; (iii) the number of megakaryocyte colonies. The total colony number after 7 days of In Vitro culture is a simple In Vitro parameter that seems to reflect the proliferative capacity of various progenitor subsets in PBSC autografts. This simple analysis may be used in combination with other In Vitro techniques (e.g. estimation of stem cell viability and CD34₊ cell subset analysis) for pretransplant evaluation of autografts. However, the possible clinical use of this parameter has to be examined in prospective clinical studies.     

Adhesion to Fibronectin Maintains Regenerative Capacity During Ex Vivo Culture and Transduction of Human Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells

Recent reports have indicated that there is poor engraftment fromhematopoietic stem cells (HSC) that have traversed cell cycle ex vivo.However, inducing cells to cycle in culture is critical to the fieldsof ex vivo stem cell expansion and retroviral-mediated gene therapy.Through the use of a xenograft model, the current data shows that humanhematopoietic stem and progenitor cells can traverse M phase ex vivo,integrate retroviral vectors, engraft, and sustain long-termhematopoiesis only if they have had the opportunity to engage theirintegrin receptors to fibronectin during the culture period. Ifcultured in suspension under the same conditions, transduction isundetectable and the long-term multilineage regenerative capacity ofthe primitive cells is severely diminished.     

Hemopoietic Recovery and Infectious Complications in Breast Cancer and Multiple Myeloma after Autologous CD34<Superscript>+</Superscript> Cell-Selected Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cell Transplantation

Autografting with CD34+ cell-selected peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) is often associated with a prolonged recovery time and a higher incidence of infections. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether underlying disease influences hemopoietic recovery and the infectious complications occurring after transplantation. We studied 19 breast cancer (BC) patients and 17 multiple myeloma (MM) patients entered in a high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) program of tandem autografting with CD34+ cell-selected PBPC. PBPC were collected after mobilizing chemotherapy plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and were processed for selection of CD34+ cells. After selection, a median of 53% CD34+ cells was recovered with a median final purity of 92% with no significant differences between the MM (52% and 92%, respectively) and BC (53% and 89%, respectively) patients. Medians of 4.5 x 10(6)/kg CD34+ cells (BC, 4.4 x 10(6)/kg; MM, 5.4 x 10(6)/kg) and 18 x 10(4)/kg colony-forming units-granulocyte-macrophage (BC, 21 x 10(4)/kg: MM, 16 x 10(4)/kg) were reinfused after each HDC. Twenty-six patients (10 MM and 16 BC) underwent tandem autografting, and 10 patients received only 1 autograft because of inadequate collection (5 patients), clinical condition (3 patients), and refusal (2 patients). In the BC patients, the HDC regimen included a high-dose melphalan course followed by an ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide) course. In the MM patients, the regimen consisted of a course of high-dose melphalan therapy and a course of ICBV (idarubicin, cyclophosphamide [Cytoxan], BCNU, and etoposide) or total body irradiation, etoposide, and Cytoxan. We found a significantly prolonged time for neutrophil recovery to > 500/microL in the MM patients (13 days versus 10 days; P < .002), whereas the times for platelet recovery to > 20,000/microL in the two groups were not different (13 days versus 12 days; not significant). No late engraftment failures and no toxic deaths were observed. The incidences of extrahematologic toxicity were similar for the two patient groups. All patients received similar anti-infection prophylaxis for 3 months after transplantation. After 12 months of observation, we found a statistically significant higher incidence of bacterial infections in MM patients in both the early (77.8% versus 48.6%; P < .034) and the late (41.1% versus 0%; P < .014) posttransplantation periods, whereas the incidences of fungal infections were similar in the two groups. Viral infections consisted of herpes zoster virus infection in 2 patients of each group, and cytomegalovirus infection was observed in 3 MM patients and no BC patients. Our experience demonstrates a prolonged neutrophil recovery time and higher incidences of bacterial and viral infections in MM patients compared with BC patients. These observations, although limited by the small sample size, suggest that the underlying disease may influence the incidence of infections after CD34- cell-selected transplantation and should be considered in the planning of appropriate antimicrobial prophylaxis in the autologous transplantation setting.     

Successful Treatment of Primary Cardiac Lymphoma by Rituximab-CHOP and High-Dose Chemotherapy with Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation

Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) is defined as lymphoma involving only the heart and/or pericardium, or with an intrapericardial location of the main tumor mass. It is an extremely rare type of lymphoma and has a poor prognosis because of diagnostic delay and the disease site. PCL is histologically characterized by a mostly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The median survival time has been reported to be 7 months. We present the case of a 55-year-old woman who presented with chest oppression and dyspnea on effort. Following a close examination, PCL with a high International Prognostic Index was diagnosed. She received 6 courses of R-CHOP therapy (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone) and achieved complete remission. The patient then underwent a consolidation therapy consisting of high-dose chemotherapy including rituximab, followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. There were no complications, such as pulmonary embolism, fatal arrhythmia, or acute heart failure, throughout chemotherapy. Our experience indicates that this therapy is safe and effective and can improve the outcome of high-risk PCL.     

同型半胱氨酸对外周血内皮前体细胞的影响及粒细胞集落刺激因子的干预作用

目的观察高蛋氨酸饮食对外周血内皮前体细胞数量的影响及粒细胞集落刺激因子对该影响的干预作用。方法雄性新西兰兔随机分为四组:正常对照组、同型半胱氨酸组、粒细胞集落刺激因子组、同型半胱氨酸 粒细胞集落刺激因子组。正常对照组及粒细胞集落刺激因子组普食,同型半胱氨酸及同型半胱氨酸 粒细胞集落刺激因子两组饲以1%蛋氨酸饮食,粒细胞集落刺激因子及同型半胱氨酸 粒细胞集落刺激因子组予以粒细胞集落刺激因子50μgd,腹腔注射。观察1、2、3、4、8、12周外周血内皮前体细胞数量的变化。第12周测血清一氧化氮、同型半胱氨酸。结果①外周血内皮前体细胞数量变化:正常对照组基本稳定于低水平;粒细胞集落刺激因子组相对稳定于高水平;同型半胱氨酸组前4周呈下降趋势,第8、12周升高,但与正常对照组无统计学差异;同型半胱氨酸 粒细胞集落刺激因子组呈下降趋势,前2周高于正常对照组(P<0.01),第2周开始低于粒细胞集落刺激因子组(P<0.01)。②血清一氧化氮值:同型半胱氨酸组低于正常对照组(P<0.01),而同型半胱氨酸 粒细胞集落刺激因子组高于同型半胱氨酸组(P<0.05)。③血清同型半胱氨酸值:同型半胱氨酸组和同型半胱氨酸 粒细胞集落刺激因子组显著高于正常对照组和粒细胞集落刺激因子组(P<0.01)。结论同型半胱氨酸开始使内皮前体细胞下降,随后升高;并可致血清一氧化氮下降。粒细胞集落刺激因子前2周可升高同型半胱氨酸组内皮前体细胞,以后不增高;并可拮抗同型半胱氨酸引起的一氧化氮下降。粒细胞集落刺激因子改善同型半胱氨酸引起的内皮功能损害,可能与其动员内皮前体细胞有关。粒细胞集落刺激因子对血清同型半胱氨酸无影响。