title: High-dose methotrexate in the mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells for patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a twelve-year study in a single center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) is a promising approach for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Higher cell doses have been associated with a faster blood count recovery and a reduction in transfusion requirements, infection rates, and hospitalization times. Mobilization failure constitutes one of the main reasons for avoiding auto-HSCT. The role of high-dose methotrexate (MTX) as mobilization regimen is still unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of high-dose MTX as a mobilization regimen for 67 adult patients with NHL who received auto-HSCT was studied between January 2001 and October 2012. The stem cells were mobilized using combination chemotherapy including MTX plus granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in 33 patients (Group A), and the stem cells of the other 34 patients were mobilized using the same combination chemotherapy plus G-CSF without MTX (Group B).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the patients were successfully mobilized in Group A; however, two patients failed in Group B. The median numbers of CD34+ cells collected were 14.36 × 10(6) and 5.3 × 10(6) cells/kg for Groups A and B, respectively (p < 0.05). All of the patients experienced a stable neutrophil and platelet (PLT) engraftment. The times to white blood cell engraftment were 8.0 days in Group A and 11.0 days in Group B, and the times to PLT engraftment were 12.0 days in Group A and 13.0 days in Group B (p < 0.05 for both variables).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-dose MTX is a powerful regimen component for stem cell mobilization in adult patients with NHL.
authors: Department of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Cheng
authors: C
authors: Zhang
authors: Xing-Hua
authors: XH
authors: Chen
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Gao
authors: Yao
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Gao
authors: Pei-Yan
authors: PY
authors: Kong
authors: Dong-Feng
authors: DF
authors: Zeng
authors: Xian-Gui
authors: XG
authors: Peng
authors: Ai-Hua
authors: AH
authors: Sun
authors: Xi
authors: X
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D019650:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C527276:CXCR4 protein, human; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; D008727:Methotrexate