Stem cell collection from peripheral blood of multiple myeloma patients

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a practical stem cell collection method that provides sufficient stem cells for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients despite low peripheral CD34 (pCD34) counts and to describe the benefits of this method for MM patients with limited resources.

To demonstrate a practical method for stem cell collection.

Stem cell collection data on the last 300 patients at a community cancer center in Washington were reviewed. We report on the methods of collection, including medications used and timing, used by the blood blank as well as their outcomes. The three MM patients with initially very low pCD34 counts all successfully underwent stem cell collection in a single trip to the transplant center for their ASCT.

Three patients whose pre-collection pCD34 counts were the lowest and less than 2.5 cells/μL were identified. These patients had the commonality of having multiple barriers to transportation and likely would have been able to make only one trip for the stem cell collections.

Despite particularly low pre-collection peripheral blood CD34 counts, successful autologous stem cell collection in MM patients is feasible by routinely adding plerixafor to granulocyte-colony stimulating factor on day 4 of mobilization. There is limited analysis demonstrating that sufficient stem cells for one or more transplants can be collected using this method. This practical and novel approach may benefit the high number of MM patients who face limited resources, finances, long travel times, and social support. These results are highly relevant to physicians treating similar patients.