Peripheral Progenitor Cell Collection Research Articles

Comparison of two continuous-flow systems for the collection of peripheral progenitor cells.

New advances in apheresis technology allow for the safe and efficient collection of peripheral progenitor cells (PPC). Two blood cell separators were compared with respect to separation results such as PPC yield and contamination of the products. A total of 11 patients (6 multiple myeloma, 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and 1 medulloblastoma) underwent PPC collections with either the Amicus (Baxter) or AS. TEC (Fresenius) blood cell separator. PPC were mobilized by chemotherapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) application. Blood counts were determined before and after apheresis as well as in the PPC product. CD34 antigen-expressing cells were measured in the peripheral blood and in the PPC product by flow cytometry. Median baseline CD34 antigen-expressing cells were higher in patients undergoing PPC collection with the Amicus device. More PPC/kg of body weight were collected with this machine (5.3 x 10(6)/kg body weight versus 1.7 x 10(6) in the AS. TEC). The median volume was 129 ml (range 80-156 ml) for Amicus products and 111 ml (range 66-202 ml) for the AS. TEC, respectively. The median platelet contamination of the products from the Amicus blood cell separator was significantly lower than in products from the AS. TEC machine (0.17 x 10(11) versus 0.65 x 10(11), p < 0.001). The data show that a higher yield of PPC was collected with the Amicus machine. The platelet contamination of the products obtained from the two blood cells separators was significantly different.

Comparison of Two Continuous-Flow Systems for the Collection of Peripheral Progenitor Cells

New advances in apheresis technology allow for the safe and efficient collection of peripheral progenitor cells (PPC). Two blood cell separators were compared with respect to separation results such as PPC yield and contamination of the products. A total of 11 patients (6 multiple myeloma, 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and 1 medulloblastoma) underwent PPC collections with either the Amicus (Baxter) or AS.TEC (Fresenius) blood cell separator. PPC were mobilized by chemotherapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) application. Blood counts were determined before and after apheresis as well as in the PPC product. CD34 antigen-expressing cells were measured in the peripheral blood and in the PPC product by flow cytometry. Median baseline CD34 antigen-expressing cells were higher in patients undergoing PPC collection with the Amicus device. More PPC/kg of body weight were collected with this machine (5.3 × 106/kg body weight versus 1.7 × 106 in the AS.TEC). The median volume was 129 ml (range 80-156 ml) for Amicus products and 111 ml (range 66-202 ml) for the AS.TEC, respectively. The median platelet contamination of the products from the Amicus blood cell separator was significantly lower than in products from the AS.TEC machine (0.17 × 1011 versus 0.65 × 1011, p < 0.001). The data show that a higher yield of PPC was collected with the Amicus machine. The platelet contamination of the products obtained from the two blood cells separators was significantly different.

Collection of peripheral progenitor cells: a comparison between Amicus and Cobe-Spectra blood cell separators

The authors compared the efficiency of two different blood cell separators (Amicus and Cobe-Spectra) in collecting peripheral blood progenitor cells for autologous or homologous transplantation. A total number of 129 procedures were performed, 36 with Spectra, 93 with Amicus. There was no difference between Spectra and Amicus efficiencies for CD34+ cell collection (46.685% vs 46.235%; p=n.s) but the platelet efficiencies were 17.31% and 12.54% respectively ( p=0.04) and, if autologous and allogeneic collections were considered separately, a marked difference resulted in allogeneic platelet efficiency between 6 Spectra and 23 Amicus procedures (26.83% vs 8.68%, p=0.0004). The authors were able to demonstrate that in 70 Amicus autologous collections there was a different platelet efficiency, if peripheral count was considered: 12 procedures performed with a platelet count > 100 × 10 9/l had a very low efficiency (6.86%), but this value increased if platelet count lowered (13.02% if between 100 and 50 × 10 9/l, 22.63% if between 50 and 0 × 10 9/l, 23 and 35 procedures respectively). The study is preliminary and the number of collections is little, but the overall data suggest that Spectra (AutoPBSC, V 6.0) and Amicus separators have the same efficiency for collecting CD34+ cells while Amicus procedures have a very low platelet contamination, especially with donors.

Collection of peripheral progenitor cells in paediatric patients with a new programme for the collection of mononuclear cells.

When harvesting peripheral progenitor cells (PPC) in children, the special situation of their circulatory system has to be taken into account. Therefore, extracorporeal blood volume and product volume should be small to avoid side effects. Nine children (age 2-14 years, weight 12.8-58.5 kg) with malignancies underwent 10 PPC collections with the MNC programme of the Amicus blood cell separator. The disposable kit was primed with red blood cells (RBCs) or human albumin to avoid circulatory side effects. The children were monitored for blood pressure and heart rate during the whole apheresis procedure. A median blood volume of 4,577 ml (range 3,536-8,596 ml) was processed in a separation time of 270 min (range 176-331 min). The median product weight was 81 g (range 53-107 g) and the yield of CD 34 antigen expressing cells was 12.5 x 10(6)/kg body weight (range 1.8-26 x 10(6)/kg body weight). Only one child had to undergo a second apheresis to collect the desired transplantation dose. The median platelet contamination of the product was 0.32 x 10(11) (0.13-0.85 x 10(11)). No circulatory side effects were observed. Blood flow alarms occurred in seven of ten aphereses and one collection had to be terminated due to insufficient flow. PPC can be efficiently collected in children with the MNC programme without circulatory side effects. The platelet contamination of the product was low due to the elutriation principle of the collection process, thereby avoiding thrombocytopenic bleeding episodes in the patients.

Adverse events in peripheral progenitor cell collection: a 7-year experience.

Collection of peripheral progenitor cells (PPC) by apheresis machines is generally regarded as a safe procedure. However, data about adverse events in PPC harvesting are scarce. In a monocentric retrospective study, the data of 540 PPC collections in a period of 7 years were reviewed. Adverse events were subdivided in collection-associated technical problems and patient/donor-related side effects. Patient/donor-related side effects occurred most often (19.8%); most of them were paresthesias due to citrate toxicity. Paresthesias were treated by oral (20.4%) or intravenous (1.1%) calcium supplementation. Problems with venous access were also seen frequently, resulting in blood flow alarms (11.3%) and blockades in the return line (4.3%). A total of 6.9% of these problems were catheter associated, requiring revision of the central venous line in 2.6%. Technical problems with the blood cell separators were observed in 11.7%. Ten PPC collections were discontinued due to adverse events. The data of this retrospective, monocentric analysis show that patient/donor-associated problems were observed in every fifth PPC harvest. Most of them were paresthesias, which could be easily treated by calcium supplementation. Problems with venous access and technical problems with the cell separators occurred in every tenth PPC collection.

Colledction of Peripheral Progenitor Cells in Pediatric Patients with Reduced Volume Technique

Background: When peripheral progenitor cells (PPC) are harvested in children the special situation of their circulatory system has to be taken into account. Extracorporeal blood volume and product volume should be low to avoid side effects. Setting: Hemapheresis unit and pediatric oncologic ward of a University Clinic. Patients: 12 children with neuroblastoma, Ewing sarcoma, unclassified malignant bone tumor, medulloblastoma, pheochromocytoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and Wilms tumor. Material and Methods: The children underwent 24 PPC collections with a continuous flow system and a reduced volume programme. PPC were mobilized by chemotherapy and G-CSF application. Blood counts and CD34 antigen-expressing cells were determined before apheresis and in the PPC product. PPC were frozen at controlled rates and stored in liquid nitrogen until they were used for autologous transplantation. Results: Except for anticoagulant-induced venous irritation, no adverse side effects were observed. The median product volume was 59 ml (range 34–119 ml) and the yield of CD34 antigen-expressing cells was 1.9 × 10⁶/kg body weight (0.1 × 10⁶– 20.4 × 10⁶/kg). The platelet contamination of the products was 0.25 × 10¹¹(0.05 × 10¹¹–1.43 × 10¹¹). Median hematopoietic reconstitution for platelets was achieved on day 27 after transplantation and for leukocytes on day 10.5, respectively. Conclusion: PPC can be easily collected in children with the reduced product volume technique. The system is adopted to the small blood volume of infants so that no circulatory side effects were observed. The reduced volume technique helps lessening the quantity of dimethylsulfoxide needed for cryopreservation as well as reducing storage space. Platelet contamination of the product was low due to retransfusion of platelet-rich plasma to the patients prior to PPC harvesting.

Collection of platelets and peripheral progenitor cells with the fresenius AS.TEC 204 blood cell separator.

The aim of the present study was to clinically evaluate the blood cell separator AS.TEC 204. One hundred fifteen platelet collections were carried out with the dual or single needle procedure. Platelet yield was 3.21 +/- 0.80 x 10(11) (mean +/- standard deviation) and 59.1% of the collections showed platelet counts > or = 3.0 x 10(11). Leukocyte contamination was 1.77 +/- 2.81 x 10(6) and 89.0% of the platelet concentrates had a white blood cell content < 5 x 10(6). Using a dual needle technique with an alternating interface adjustment, all of the products were contaminated with less than 1 x 10(6) leukocytes. Furthermore, 23 peripheral progenitor cell collections were performed in 12 patients and three allogeneic donors. Median numbers of harvested CD 34 antigen expressing cells/kg body weight were 0.78 (range 0-4.7) and 3.67 x 10(6) (range 2.2-5.23), respectively. We conclude that platelet and progenitor cell collections can be carried out with efficient results. The collections were well tolerated by the donors.