Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) mobilization with chemotherapy followed by sequential IL-3 and G-CSF administration in extensively pretreated patients

Extensive pretreatment has been identified as a significant risk factor for failure of sufficient PBSC mobilization. From published data and our own experience we defined pretreatment variables which render patients at risk for not collecting at least 2.5 x 10(6) CD34-positive cells per kg bodyweight (BW). These variables were previous unsuccessful PBSC mobilization trial, previous large field radiotherapy, four or more cycles of myelosuppressive chemotherapy regimens, and combinations of extended field radiotherapy plus chemotherapy. Based on these inclusion criteria we treated 19 patients with disease-specific conventional-dose chemotherapy followed by sequential subcutaneous administrati…