Journal of the Korean Cancer Association 2000;32(5): 943-953.
Potentials of Fractionated Infusions of Low-dose Peripheral Blood Stem Cells (PBSCs) to Overcome the Hematologic Toxocities after Combination Chemotherapy
1Catholic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Center, Departments of College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. 2Obstetrics and GynecologyCollege of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. 3Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We tried to evaluate the clinical usefullness of fractionated low-dose infusions of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) as a supportive care.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four patients were entered onto this study who were diagnosed to have gastric lymphoma (n=1) and advanced ovarian carcinomas (n=3). To overcome the hematologic toxicities, G-CSF-mobilized PBSCs were collected early in disease course. Harvested products were cryopreserved in aliquotes and then infused after each cycle. Planned therapeutic schedules should be performed without changes of dose and interval regardless of hematologic toxicities.
RESULTS: 20 cycles of chemotherapies were performed and data of infused cell doses were as follows: median number of PBSCs infusions, 4.5 (3~5); median MNCs, CFU-GM colony counts per infusion of low-dose PBSCs, 1.7 108/kg (1.0~2.4), 3.2 104/kg (2.1~11.8). Among 20 cycles, delayed recovery of thrombocytopenia was shown on 10 cycles. Leukopenia (III/IV) and thrombocytopenia (III/IV) were shown on 8/6 cycles and 8/2 cycles. In spite of myelosuppression, they were successfully treated with planned dose-intensity. Especially incomplete platelet recovery was successfully rescuced by using fractionated infusions of low-dose PBSCs.
CONCLUSION: These data warrant further clinical trials to evaluate the potentials of fractionated low-dose infusions of PBSCs collected early in disease course for overcoming accumulated hematologic toxicities, especially thrombocytopenia complicated by repeated chemotherapies.