Relationships between total CD34+ cells reinfused, CD34+ subsets and engraftment kinetics in breast cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between the number of CD34+ cells transfused and the duration of hypoplasia, and the relationship between various CD34+ subsets (CD34+/33-; CD34+/38-; CD34+/ HLA-DR-; CD34+/Thy-1+) and engraftment kinetics in a series of patients with breast cancer treated with high doses of thiotepa and melphalan.


METHODS
We treated 42 consecutive patients: 19 in an adjuvant context (>= 4 positive axillary nodes) and 23 for metastatic disease. A combination of thiotepa 600 mg/m(2) and melphalan 140-160 mg/m(2) was administered as the conditioning regimen. All patients received peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) and growth factors for hematopoietic rescue.


RESULTS
In univariate analysis, we found a significant relationship between the number of CD34+ cells reinfused and the time to hematologic recovery and the duration of hospital stay. We observed an inverse correlation between the number of CD34+ cells reinfused and the units of platelets transfused. Cox multivariate analysis confirmed that the number of CD34+ cells reinfused is the most effective predictor of time to hematologic recovery. CFU-GM resulted to be a better predictor of the duration of hospitalization.


CONCLUSIONS
We found a significant relationship between the number of PBPC reinfused and the time to hematologic recovery after high doses of thiotepa and melphalan. In our experience, the numbers of subsets of CD34+ cells infused did not give compared additional information to that provided by the total number of CD34+ cells infused.
Dazzi
C
C
Oncology and Hematology Department, Ospedale Santa Maria delle Croci, viale Randi 5, 48100 Ravenna, Italy. c.dazzi@ra.nettuno.it.
Cariello
A
A
Rosti
G
G
Monti
G
G
Baioni
M
M
Zornetta
L
L
Ferrari
E
E
Scarpi
E
E
Fiorentini
G
G
Marangolo
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D017713:Platelet Transfusion; D013280:Stomatitis; D013852:Thiotepa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D013852:Thiotepa; D008558:Melphalan