Administration of GM-/G-CSF prior to bone marrow harvest increases collection of CD34+ cells

This study compares differences in the cellularity and levels of CD34 positive cells in bone marrows from patients treated with G-/GM-CSF prior to harvest and marrows from untreated patients. The average volume of marrow aspirated was 1302mL in the untreated group containing an average of 2.6 x 10(10) nucleated cells, while an average volume of 1147mL of marrow was aspirated from patients treated with GM-/G-CSF prior to harvest which contained an average of 5.6 x 10(10) nucleated cells. Analysis of these marrows by flow cytometry revealed a higher percentage of CD34 positive cells within the lymphoid gate of marrow specimens from patients receiving GM-/G-CSF as compared with their untreated counterparts (21.4% vs. 9.1%). All patients receiving GM-/G-CSF prior to harvest were also given G-CSF subcutaneously (5 micrograms/kg/day) following the infusion of autologous marrow after high dose myelosuppressive chemotherapy and the duration of neutropenia (AGC < 500/mm3) in this group was shortened, an average of 12 days as compared to 24 days in untreated patients. This decreased duration of neutropenia is similar to that reported in patients receiving GM-/G-CSF only after transplantation (Lieschke & Burgess, 1992). Further studies are needed to determine whether the administration of GM-/G-CSF prior to bone marrow harvest is clinically beneficial.