CD34(-CSF-ALONE-PRIMED PERIPHERAL-BLOOD IN CHILDREN WITH LOW BODY-MASS() CELL IMMUNOSELECTION FROM G)

We report the data of CD34(+) cell immunoselection from peripheral blo od after G-CSF-alone mobilization (10 mu g/kg/d s.c.) in nine children with neuroblastoma (median age 4.5 years (2-8), median body weight 16 kg (10-20). Leukaphereses were carried out on a Cobe Spectra separato r and two consecutive harvests (4 blood volumes processed) were used f or immunoselection on a Ceprate(TM) column. The yield of CD34(+) cells in the purified fraction was 50% (23-80), with a median number of 2.8 x 10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg (1-9.4). All patients were reinfused with se lected CD34(+) cells after busulfan 600 mg/m(2) + melphalan 180 mg/m(2 ) and achieved successful haemopoietic recovery.