COLLECTION AND TRANSPLANTATION OF PERIPHERAL BLOOD PROGENITOR CELLS MOBILIzED BY G‐CSF ALONE IN CHILDREN WITH MALIGNANCIES

Abstract

Results of collection and transplantation of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) mobilized by G-CSF in 31 children with different malignancies were analysed. A total of 43 aphereses were performed, following administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), using a continuous flow blood cell separator (Cobe Spectra) through a central venous catheter. For patients weighing 0.5 x 10(9)/l and a platelet count of 20 x 10(9)/l without platelet support were 9.5 and 18, respectively. The number of CD34+ cells infused correlated highly with engraftment kinetics. The extra-medullary toxicity was low and manageable.