Role of tumor cells contaminating the graft in breast cancer recurrence after high-dose chemotherapy.
One of the possible drawbacks to autologous stem cell transplantation in breast cancer (BC) patients is the potential for tumor contamination in the transplanted product. We present a patient with advanced disease who received high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and PBPC support as consolidation therapy after achieving complete remission with standard-dose first-line treatment, and suffered recurrence of the disease 6 months after transplantation. Retrospective analysis revealed the presence of contaminating cells in the leukapheretic product, and clinical evidence suggested a role for these cells in the tumor relapse.
Pedrazzoli
P
P
Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Rehabilitation Institute of Pavia, Italy.
Battaglia
M
M
Da Prada
G A
GA
Lanza
A
A
Cuomo
A
A
Bertolini
F
F
Pavesi
L
L
Robustelli della Cuna
G
G
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000556:secondary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000009:adverse effects*