title: Randomised trial of filgrastim-mobilised peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation versus autologous bone-marrow transplantation in lymphoma patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A randomised trial comparing filgrastim-mobilised peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplants with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) for haematopoietic stem cell support has not been done. We compared the effects of filgrastim-mobilised PBPC or autologous bone marrow reinfused to lymphoma patients after high-dose chemotherapy in a prospective randomised multicentre trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  The trial was done at six centres in three European countries. After high-dose chemotherapy (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan [BEAM protocol]) 58 patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease or high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma received either filgrastim-mobilised PBPC (n = 27) or bone marrow (n = 31) for haemopoietic reconstitution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median number of days with platelet transfusions after grafting was 6 in the PBPC transplantation group and 10 in the ABMT group (estimate of treatment difference 5 days, 95% CI 3-7 days). Time to platelet recovery above 20 x 10(9)/L was 16 days in the PBPC transplantation group and 23 days in the ABMT group (p = 0.02). Time to neutrophil recovery above 0.5 x 10(9)/L was also reduced in the PBPC transplantation group (11 vs 14 days, p = 0.005). Patients randomised to PBPC transplantation needed fewer red blood cell transfusions (two vs three, p = 0.002) and spent less time in hospital (17 vs 23 days, p = 0.002). Early post-transplant morbidity and mortality as well as overall survival (median follow-up 311 days) were similar in both groups. There was no notable toxicity ascribed to filgrastim administration or the leucapheresis procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with lymphoma treated with high-dose chemotherapy, reinfusing filgrastim-mobilised PBPC instead of autologous bone marrow significantly reduced the number of platelet transfusions, the time to platelet and neutrophil recovery, and led to earlier discharge from hospital.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Linch
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dreger
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Goldstone
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Boogaerts
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrant
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Demuynck
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Link
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zander
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D000069585:Filgrastim; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017713:Platelet Transfusion; D011034:Podophyllotoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D003561:Cytarabine; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D011034:Podophyllotoxin; D000069585:Filgrastim; D008558:Melphalan; D002330:Carmustine