5-YEAR EXPERIENCE IN PBSC COLLECTION - RESULTS OF THE CATHOLIC-UNIVERSITY OF ROME

Several authors have reported a faster immunological and hemopoietic p ost-transplant reconstitution using autologous peripheral blood stem c ell (PBSC) than using autologous bone marrow stem cells. A large numbe r of PBSC can be collected by leukapheresis during the hematological r ecovery after induction or salvage chemotherapy. In our experience we demonstrated that several separators, even if they have different resu lts in mononuclear cell (MNC) yields, red blood cell and platelet cont aminations, are able to collect PBSC for autotransplantation in patien ts with several malignant diseases and different status of disease. Ei ghty three patients were submitted to 590 leukapheresis procedures usi ng 4 different blood cell separators: the results showed that all empl oyed protocols are efficient in the collection of peripheral MNC even if after the widespread use of granulocytecolony stimulating factor (G -CSF) in the harvesting phase, the blood cell separator efficiency in terms of MNC is reduced. The use of GCSF in combination with other gro wth factors, during chemotherapy mobilization could simplify, in the f uture, this therapeutical program even if improvements in the efficien cy of PBSC collection protocols are required.