Peripheral blood progenitor cell collection by two programs for autologous and allogeneic transplantation

In the Spectra apheresis instrument (Terumo BCT), both manual (Spectra-MNC) and automated (Spectra-Auto) programs have been widely used to collect peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs). However, direct comparison of these programs remains extremely limited.

We investigated 188 collections and products from autologous (patient) and allogeneic (donor) subjects and analyzed a subset of 89 allogeneic collections and products. Twenty-nine subjects who received apheresis for 2 consecutive days using both programs were also evaluated with a paired crossover comparison.

The two programs processed similar volumes, but run time was longer with Spectra-Auto. Yield and efficiency of CD34+ cell collection were similar between these programs in the whole cohort, although white blood cell (WBC) and mononuclear cell (MNC) yields were higher with Spectra-MNC. In the allogeneic cohort, yield and efficiency of WBC collection were greater in Spectra-MNC. However, collected WBCs, MNCs, and CD34+ cells were similar between these programs in paired comparison. Regardless of program, preapheresis peripheral WBC, MNC, and CD34+ cell counts correlated with the number of cells collected. In contrast, preapheresis WBC counts in the whole cohort were negatively correlated with collection efficiencies of CD34+ cells in Spectra-MNC but not Spectra-Auto. The products collected using Spectra-MNC contained more contaminating platelets (PLTs) than Spectra-Auto, with a corresponding reduction in postdonation circulating PLTs.

Spectra-MNC and Spectra-Auto showed distinct features that should be considered on a case-by-case basis. Similar investigations should be undertaken as new collection platforms are introduced.