Autologous platelet collection and storage to support thrombocytopenia in patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and circulating progenitor cell transplantation for high-risk breast cancer

Objectives: The use of circulating progenitor cell support following high-c lose chemotherapy for malignancies decreases but does not entirely abolish platelet transfusion requirement. We investigated the feasibility of suppor ting the posttransplant thrombocytopenic phase exclusively with autologous platelets collected by apheresis and cryopreserved. Methods: 25 patients un derwent plateletpheresis during the platelet rebound occurring after high-d ose cyclo-phosphamide. Autologous platelets were cryopreserved in 5% dimeth ylsulfoxide, thawed and transfused during the aplastic phase after the myel oablative regimen whenever clinically required. Results: A single plateletp heresis was carried out in all. patients, allowing the harvest of a platele t concentrate with a mean value of 7.7 x 10(11) platelets. No significant p rocedure- or transfusion-related side effects were recorded. Mean platelet recovery after freezing and thawing was 63% and the mean number of platelet reinfused was 4.8 x 10(11); 23 of 25 patients were fully supported with au tologous platelets. Conclusion: Plateletpheresis performed in our selected group of patients was found to be a safe and effective procedure to collect large amounts of autologous platelets; the numbers obtained proved to be s ufficient for the transfusion demand of almost all patients.