[Mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells in advanced ovarian cancer]

High-dose chemotherapy with hematopoietic support has been expected to improve the survival of advanced ovarian cancer patients in recent years. An essential component of such treatment has been the ability to collect and reinfuse a large number of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) following high dose therapy. This study was designed to determine which clinical and hematological factors would be better indicators to collect the proper volume of PBSCs. Thirteen patients received a total of 24 courses of induction chemotherapy and 69 of apheresis. We usually mobilized stem cells using CEP chemotherapy (cisplatin 50-70 mg/m2, epirubicin 50 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 1.5 g/m2) with G-CSF and CEE regimen (cyclophosphamide 2.0 g/m2, epirubicin 50 mg/m2, and etoposide 50 mg/m2) as a salvage for mobilization. We obtained an average 5 x 10(6)/kg of CD34+ cells for 3 days as one course. The number of CD34+ cells collected significantly depended on the platelets and reticulocytes on the first day of apheresis, but not a nadir of WBCs. It is concluded that apheresis should be started on recovery of WBCs to 5,000-10,000/microliters, of immature granulocytes to > or = 10% and of reticulocytes to > or = 20%. This study confirmed the feasibility of collecting enough PBSCs to use standard chemotherapy of ovarian cancer patients.