THE COBE SPECTRA CELL SEPARATOR IS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE HEMONETICSMCS-3P CELL SEPARATOR FOR PERIPHERAL-BLOOD PROGENITOR-CELL HARVEST AFTER MOBILIZATION WITH CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE AND FILGRASTIM

BACKGROUND: Peripheral blood is rapidly replacing bone marrow as a sou rce of hematopoietic progenitor cells for autologous transplantation. The advantages of peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation are enhanced by the ability to collect sufficient progenitor cells to ens ure rapid neutrophil and platelet recovery in a single procedure on so me cell separators. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A prospective randomized study was undertaken to compare peripheral blood progenitor cell yiel ds from two cell separators (MCS-3P, Haemonetics and Spectra, COBE). F ifteen consecutive patients were mobilized with cyclophosphamide 2 g p er m(2) (Day 0) and filgrastim 10 mu g per kg (Days 1-11). Consecutive collections (Day 10, Day 11) were performed with each machine once; p atients were randomly assigned to either machine for the initial colle ction. RESULTS: Collection time was longer on the MCS-3P (p = 0.001), and the volume processed was greater with the Spectra (p<0.0001). Desp ite similar nucleated cell yield (p = 0.62), the yield of CD34(+) cell s (p = 0.001) and colony-forming units-granulocytic-monocytic (p = 0.0 001) was significantly higher with the Spectra. The yield of nucleated cells per unit of blood volume processed was higher for the MCS-3P (p = 0.0007), while the CD34+ cell yield (p = 1) and colony-forming unit s-granulocytic-monocytic yield (p = 1) per unit of blood volume proces sed were similar for the two machines. The collection of CD34+ cells a t levels >2 x 10(6) per kg (p = 0.063), 5 x 10(6) per kg (p = 0.031), and colony-forming units-granulocytic-monocytic >1 x 10(6) per kg (p = 0.25) after a single collection was superior for the Spectra. CONCLUS ION: The yield of progenitor cells after collection on the Spectra was superior to that achieved with the MCS-3P, because of the larger volu me of blood processed per procedure. This would permit more patients t o undergo only one collection.