Mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells using regimen combining docetaxel with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in breast cancer patients

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the mobilization of peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells by combining docetaxel with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in breast cancer patients.

Methods

A total of 57 breast cancer patients were treated with docetaxel 120 mg/m². When the white blood cell (WBC) count decreased to 1.0×10⁹/L, patients were given G-CSF 5 μg/kg daily by subcutaneous injection until the end of apheresis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) were isolated by Cobe Spectra Apheresis System. The percentage of CD34⁺ cell was assayed by flow cytometry.

Results

At a median 6 of days (range 3-8) after the administration of docetaxel, the median WBC count decreased to 1.08×10⁹/L (range 0.20-2.31). The median duration of G-CSF mobilization was 3 days (range 2-7). The MNC collection was conducted 8-12 days (median 10 days) after docetaxel treatment. The median MNC was 5.35×10⁸/kg (range 0.59-14.07), the median CD34⁺ cell count was 2.43×10⁶/kg (range 0.16-16.69). The CD34⁺ cell count was higher than 1.00×10⁶/kg in 47 of 57 cases (82.46%) and higher than 2.00×10⁶/kg in 36 cases (63.16%). The CD34⁺ cell count was higher than 2.00×10⁶/kg in 27 collections (23.68%). The MNC count and the CD34⁺ cell count were correlated with the bottom of WBC after docetaxel chemotherapy (r=0.364, 0.502, P=0.005, 0.000). The CD34⁺ cell count was correlated with the MNC count (r=0.597, P=0.000). The mobilization and apheresis were well tolerated in all patients. Mild perioral numbness and numbness of hand or feet were observed in 3 cases. No serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusion

Mobilization of peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell by combining docetaxel with G-CSF was effective and safety in breast cancer patients.Key words: Docetaxel, Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), Mobilization, Stem cell