Bone marrow protection

During the Third International Conference on Negative Control of Hematopoiesis (Paris, April 1993), a special session was devoted to bone marrow protection. Myelotoxicity is often a limiting factor in the use of efficient doses of chemo- or radiotherapy. It appeared therefore of great importance to protect hematopoietic stem cells in order to allow the restoration of hematopoiesis and to prevent the occurrence of lethal aplasia. Several approaches to decrease the myelotoxicity of chemo- and/or radiotherapy were discussed: MDR gene therapy, use of chemical compounds (AS101, WR 2721), cytokines such as TNF alpha and IL-1 and small peptides, pEEDCK and AcSKDP. Interestingly, several of these molecules appear of interest to protect normal stem cells during marrow purging for autograft.