Intensive chemotherapy with 1-3 drugs and support with autologous myelopoietic cells extracted from the peripheral blood: the preliminary results

Fourteen patients with different solid tumors have been treated with high-dose combination chemotherapy followed by autologous PBSC support. A total of 15 procedures have been done. 4,5-7 x 10(10) mononuclear cells were obtained through 1-4 leukapheresis using a CS-3.000 continuous flow blood cell separator.

Cells were maintained in standard culture conditions for 3-5 days prior to infusion. Chemotherapy consisted in the administration of 1-3 agents: CPA 80 mg/kg; VP-16, 800 mg/m2; BCNU 700-800 mg/m2, CBDCA 1.000 mg/m2. APBSC were infused 48 hours after the last chemotherapy was given. Patients were maintained in single-bed rooms with standard prophylactic antibiotics, including gentamycin, piperacillin, vancomycin and amphotericin B during the period of aplasia. Currently 5 procedures are available for response and all patients are evaluable for toxicity. Responses have been: 2 complete responses and 3 partial response. All patients entered in aplasia, with 12 infections (73%), 8 bleeding (53%), 4 diarrhea (27%), 2 stomatitis (13%) and 3 renal failure (16%).

Conclusions:

1. Bone marrow recovery after high dose chemotherapy can be shortened with APBSC support.
2. APBSC can be safely maintained using standard culture techniques, thus avoiding the freezing procedure.

CITA DEL ARTÍCULO Rev Med Univ Navarra. 1990 Jan-Mar;34(1):51-4