title: A simplified method for autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the efficacy and safety of non-cryopreserved storage of autologous hematopoietic stem cells with no post-transplant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) support in adult patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for multiple myeloma (MM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of patients undergoing ASCT from May 2009 to July 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Autologous stem cell were mobilized using G-CSF. Leukapheresis to harvest stem cells was performed on day -2 and -1. The grafts were kept in a conventional blood bank refrigerator at 4°C until reinfusion on day 0. The conditioning regimen consisted of melphalan 200 mg/m2 in all patients. The post-chemotherapy myeloablative phase was managed without growth factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between May 2009 to July 2011, 54 adults with MM were treated in our center in Oran. The median age at ASCT was 55 years (range, 35-65). There were 37 males and 17 females. The median harvested CD34+ cell count was 3.60X106/kg (range, 1.90 to 10.52). All patients had neutrophil engraftment on the median of day 10 (range, 6-17) and platelet transfusion independence on the median of day 13 (range 9-24). In the 47 evaluable patients the median post-transplant overall survival had not been reached; the estimated overall survival at 30 months was 93.8% (0.05%) , and the estimated disease-free survival at 27 months was 93.6% (0.05%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-dose chemotherapy and ASCT using non-cryopreserved stem cells and no G-CSF support is safe and feasible in the treatment of MM under our work conditions in developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Service Hématologie et Thérapie Cellulaire, Oran, Algeria. mabekadja@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M-A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bekadja
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brahimi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Osmani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arabi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bouhass
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yafour
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Entasoltan
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rasheed
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Attaf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning / Q000379:methods*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous