IN-VITRO MANIPULATION OF PERIPHERAL-BLOOD PROGENITOR-CELL COLLECTIONS

Mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) are increasingly us ed to reconstitute hematopoiesis in patients undergoing high-dose chem oradiotherapy. PBPC collections comprise a heterogeneous population co ntaining both committed progenitors and pluripotent stem cells and can be harvested (i) in steady state, (ii) after chemotherapeutic conditi oning, (iii) growth factor priming, or (iv) both. The use of PBPC has opened new therapeutic perspectives mainly related to the availability of large amounts of mobilized hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells . Extensive manipulation of the grafts, including the possibility of e xploiting these cells as vehicles for gene therapy strategies, are now possible and will be reviewed.