[Myeloablative chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow and/or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in children...

Autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) are increasingly used to support high-dose chemotherapy for solid tumors of childhood. In this review we described practical aspects of myeloablative chemotherapy rescued by ABMT, PBSCT or combination of ABMT and PBSCT for the treatment of children with high-risk solid tumor, involving our experiences in 15 cases. Indication, method of harvesting bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells, cryopreservation, transplantation, selection of anti-neoplastic agents for preconditioning, nutritional and G-CSF support, engraftment and outcomes for prognosis were discussed. In comparing the engraftment of stem cells between ABMT and PBSCT, the acceleration of platelet and erythrocyte recovery is less impressive, although there is a tendency to more rapid recovery of granulocyte in PBSCT group. The outcomes are distinctly improved only in patients who showed complete remission after induction chemotherapy, radiation and surgical excision. A better prognosis will be conferred especially in neuroblastoma and entities of small round cell tumor. It is noteworthy that relapses can occur as distant metastasis considerable years after complete clinical remission. This may be largely contributed by contaminated malignant cells in both harvested bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells. There is no significant difference between the relapse rates after ABMT and PBSCT.