CD34+ cell mobilization, blood graft composition, and posttransplant recovery in myeloma patients compared to non‐Hodgkinʼs lymphoma patients: results of the prospective multicenter GOA study

BACKGROUNDAutologous stem cell transplantation is an established treatment option for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) or non‐Hodgkinʼs lymphoma (NHL).STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSIn this prospective multicenter study, 147 patients with MM were compared with 136 patients with NHL regarding the mobilization and apheresis of blood CD34+ cells, cellular composition of infused blood grafts, posttransplant recovery, and outcome.RESULTSMultiple myeloma patients mobilized CD34+ cells more effectively (6.3 × 106/kg vs. 3.9 × 106/kg, p = 0.001). The proportion of poor mobilizers (peak blood CD34+ cell count 100 days) nonrelapse mortality (NRM; 6% vs. 0%, p = 0.003).CONCLUSIONSNon‐Hodgkinʼs lymphoma and MM patients differ in terms of mobilization of CD34+ cells, graft cellular composition, and posttransplant recovery. Thus, the optimal graft characteristics may also be different.</p

Autograft cellular composition and outcome in myeloma patients: Results of the prospective multicenter GOA study

Background Autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) is a widely used treatment option in multiple myeloma (MM) patients. The optimal graft cellular composition is not known. Study design and methods Autograft cellular composition was analyzed after freezing by flow cytometry in 127 MM patients participating in a prospective multicenter study. The impact of graft cellular composition on hematologic recovery and outcome after auto-SCT was evaluated. Results A higher graft CD34(+) cell content predicted faster platelet recovery after auto-SCT in both the short and long term. In patients with standard-risk cytogenetics, a higher graft CD34(+) count (>2.5 x 10/kg) was linked with shorter progression-free survival (PFS; 28 vs. 46 months, p = 0.04), but there was no difference in overall survival (OS) (p = 0.53). In a multivariate model, a higher graft CD34(+)CD133(+)CD38(-) (>0.065 x 10/kg, p = 0.009) and NK cell count (>2.5 x 10/kg, p = 0.026), lenalidomide maintenance and standard-risk cytogenetics predicted better PFS. In contrast, a higher CD34(+) count (>2.5 x 10/kg, p = 0.015) predicted worse PFS. A very low CD3(+) cell count ( Conclusions Autograft cellular composition may impact outcome in MM patients after auto-SCT. More studies are needed to define optimal graft composition.Peer reviewe

Blood graft and outcome after autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma

Abstract Background: Autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) is a treatment option for patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). Methods: In this prospective multicenter study, the effects of blood graft cellular content on hematologic recovery and outcome were analyzed in 17 PCNSL patients receiving auto-SCT upfront. Results: The infused viable CD34⁺ cell count &gt; 1.7 × 10⁶/kg correlated with more rapid platelet engraftment (10 vs. 31 days, P = 0.027) and with early neutrophil recovery (day + 15) (5.4 vs. 1.6 × 10⁹/L, P = 0.047). A higher number of total collected CD34⁺ cells &gt; 3.3 × 106/kg infused predicted worse 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) (33% vs. 100%, P = 0.028). In addition, CD3⁺CD8⁺ T cells &gt; 78 × 10⁶/kg in the infused graft impacted negatively on the 5-year PFS (0% vs. 88%, P = 0.016). Conclusions: The cellular composition of infused graft seems to impact on the hematologic recovery and PFS post-transplant. Further studies are needed to verify the optimal autograft cellular content in PCNSL