OBJECTIVETo study the effect of the DA-EPOCH chemotherapy combined with G-CSF and the CTX therapy with G-CSF on mobilizing and collecting the peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells and the later hematopoietic recovery.

METHODSForty patients accepted mobilization and collection of peripheral blood stem cells(PBSC) after treated by CTX+G-CSF and DA-EPOCH+G-CSF therapy respectively, and were treated by auto-transfusion after BEAM pre-regimen. The mobilization efficacy, adverse effects and hematopoietic recovery after autologous transplantation were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSDuring the CTX+G-CSF mobilization, only one patient achieved the white blood cell(WBC) at 0.8×10/L, while the others were with the lowest WBC level above 2.0×10/L. The platelet counts were all normal with the exception of 3 cases at 80×10/L. The median percentage of CD34cells in one period of collection was 0.99(0.35-1.30)%. The median MNC was (3.80±2.05)×10. The cumulative total of mononuclear cell was (5.84±2.48)×10/kg, and the median CD34cell count was 3.84(3.91-6.5)×10/kg. During the DA-EPOCH+G-CSF mobilization, the peripheral WBC count of patients were decreased to the lowest level at (0.2-1.4)×10/L. The platelet counts were all above 40×10/L except for 1 case in which the platelet count was reduced to 8×10/L. The median percentage of CD34cells in one period of collection was 0.85(0.34-1.2)%. The median MNC was (3.68±1.56)×10. The cumulative total of mononuclear cells was (6.01±2.26)×10/kg, and the median CD34cell count was 4.44(2.7-7.10)×10/kg. There were no statistical differences between the 2 groups in the median percentage of CD34cells, the median MNC, the cumulative total of mononuclear cells and the median CD34cell counts (P>0.05). The average acquired time for granulocyte engraftment was 10.00(9.00-11.00) days, and for platelet engraftment was 12.50(11.00-17.25) days, with no statistical difference(P>0.05). No death occurred during the process of transplantation.

CONCLUSIONDA-EPOCH therapy combined with G-CSF can effectively mobilize the peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells in NHL patients with higher safety and lower price, and proves to be worth recommending in clinical use.