In vitro collection and posttransfusion engraftment characteristics of MNCs obtained by using a new separator for autologous PBPC transplantation

BACKGROUND: A clinical study was performed to evaluate the peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) collection, transfusion, and engraftment characteri stics associated with use of a blood cell separator (Amicus, Baxter Healthc are). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Oncology patients (n = 31) scheduled for an autol ogous PBPC transplant following myeloablative therapy were studied. PBPCs w ere mobilized by a variety of chemotherapeutic regimens and the use of G-CS F. As no prior studies evaluated whether PBPCs collected on the Amicus sepa rator would be viable after transfusion, to ensure patient safety, PBPCs we re first collected on another cell separator (CS-3000 Plus, Baxter) and sto red as backup. The day after the CS-3000 Plus collections were completed, P BPC collections intended for transfusion were performed using the Amicus in strument. For each transplant, >2.5 x 10(6) CD34+ PBPCs per kg of body weig ht were transfused. RESULTS: Clinical data collected on the donors immediately before and after PBPC collection with the Amicus device were comparable to donor data simil arly obtained for the CS-3000 Plus collections. While the number of CD34+ c ells and the RBC volume in the collected products were equivalent for the t wo devices, the platelet content of the Amicus collections was significantl y lower than that of the CS-3000 Plus collections (4.35 x 10(10) platelets/ bag vs. 6.61 x 10(10) platelets/bag, p<0.05). Collection efficiencies for CD34+ cells were 64 +/- 23 percent for the Amicus device and 43 +/- 14 perc ent for the CS-3000 Plus device (p<0.05). The mean time to engraftment for cells collected via the Amicus device was 8.7 +/- 0.7 days for >500 PMNs pe r mu L and 9.7 +/- 1.5 days to attain a platelet count of >20,000 per mu L- equivalent to data in the literature. No CS-3000 Plus backup cells were tra nsfused and no serious adverse events attributable to the Amicus device wer e encountered. CONCLUSIONS: The mean Amicus CD34+ cell collection efficiency was better (p <0.05) than that of the CS-3000 Plus collection. Short-term engraftment was durable. The PBPCs collected with the Amicus separator are safe and effect ive for use for autologous transplant patients requiring PBPC rescue from h igh-dose myeloablative chemotherapy.