Mobilization of PBSCs with chemotherapy and recombinant human G-CSF: a randomized evaluation of early vs late...

The optimal timing for recombinant human (rh)G-CSF administration after chemotherapy for PBSC mobilization has not yet been determined. In this study, we compared two different time schedules of rhG-CSF; 4th (early) vs 7th day (late), in 48 consecutive patients with multiple myeloma and lymphoma undergoing PBSC mobilization with CE (CY 4 g/m(2) on day 1 and etoposide 200 mg/m(2) on days 1-3). The rhG-CSF dose was 10 microg/kg/day for all patients. Both groups were comparable in terms of sex, age and number of previously given different chemotherapy regimens. Duration of neutropenia, CD34(+) cell count on the first day of apheresis and numbers of aphereses were not statistically different between the two arms. However, the number of doses of rhG-CSF up to the first cycle of apheresis procedures was significantly lower in the late group than in the early group (P=0.005). The median number of total CD34(+) cells collected was 10.54 x 10(6)/kg (range 0.11-37.27) in the early group and 10.81 x 10(6)/kg (range 0.17-49.83) in the late group of rhG-CSF (P=0.781). We conclude that PBSC mobilization after late use of rhG-CSF is an effective approach and therefore, in routine clinical practice, late rhG-CSF may be used for PBSC collections after chemotherapy-based mobilization regimens in this cost-conscious era.