title: The use of plerixafor in hematopoietic progenitor cell collection in pediatric patients: a single center experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Plerixafor was recently approved for use in combination with granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) collection by apheresis in adults with multiple myeloma (MM) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). However, its efficacy in pediatric patients is not well-studied; thus, we report on our institutional experience with this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective observational analysis was performed using both stem cell-processing laboratory information as well as apheresis charts and medical records on all pediatric patients who received plerixafor as part of the mobilization regimen between December 2006 and December 2010. The primary outcome was collection yield. Secondary outcomes included the ability to undergo autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) and engraftment status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen HPC collections by apheresis representing seven mobilization courses were performed on five pediatric patients with poor mobilization status (three males, two females; median age 14 years). Median pre-harvest peripheral blood CD34(+) cell (PB CD34(+)) count was 6.88/μL. A strong correlation between pre-harvest PB CD34(+) count and collection yield was observed. Median total collection yield was 2.26 × 10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg. Four patients achieved a minimum collection of 2 × 10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg. Three patients underwent auto-HSCT with a median neutrophil and platelet engraftment of 12 and 34 days, respectively. No major adverse events with plerixafor administration or apheresis collections were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plerixafor in combination with G-CSF is a safe and potentially helpful mobilization agent in poor mobilizers. Further studies should be done to evaluate the true efficacy of plerixafor in the pediatric population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA. hpp2103@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Huy P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Nita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Mildred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Semedei-Pomales
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D001596:Benzylamines; D001781:Blood Component Removal; D000080027:Cyclams; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019650:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization / Q000379:methods*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D001596:Benzylamines; D000080027:Cyclams; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; C088327:plerixafor