Use of Plerixafor with Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor for Stem Cell Mobilization in a Pediatric Patient

Abstract

To present a case where plerixafor was successfully used in combination with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells in a pediatric patient. An 11-year-old boy with recurrent anaplastic large-cell lymphoma failed to yield an adequate number of CD34+ cells with G-CSF for mobilization. After a single subcutaneous dose of plerixafor 240 μg/kg was administered in addition to filgrastim, sufficient CD34+ cells were harvested for transplantation. A local injection site reaction was the only adverse reaction reported. Several studies in adults have shown plerixafor to be effective for the mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells when used in combination with G-CSF in adults with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma who failed to mobilize sufficient CD34+ cells with G-CSF alone. There is limited information regarding the safety and efficacy of plerixafor in pediatric patients. Plerixafor was effective in increasing the number of hematopoietic stem cells in the peripheral blood of an 11-year-old patient; studies are needed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of plerixafor in pediatric patients.