[The progress of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation]

It has recently become known that sufficient numbers of multi-potent stem cells transiently appear in the peripheral blood at the time of recovery from myelosuppression after chemotherapy for collection for later transfusion (autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation; ABSCT). It is also known that cytokines such as G-CSF or GM-CSF enhance the mobilization of stem cells in peripheral blood. It is, therefore, easy to collect a large number of progenitor cells using the apheresis technique. We have also succeeded in developing an easy preservation method using DMSO-HES-ALBUMIN as a cryoprotective agent for simple storage in a -80 degrees C refrigerator. Furthermore, the development of measurement of CD34 positive cells become easy to estimate the contents of progenitor cells in harvested peripheral mononuclear cells. These techniques contribute to the safe and reliable practice of ABSCT. There are high expectations for ABSCT as a new technique in the cure of patients with such diseases as hematological malignancy and chemotherapy sensitive solid tumor, as it makes possible the administration of super-high dose anti-cancer drugs which cause marrow ablation.