THE USE OF RHIL-3 FOR MOBILIZATION OF PERIPHERAL-BLOOD STEM-CELLS IN PREVIOUSLY TREATED PATIENTS WITH LYMPHOID MALIGNANCIES

In a phase I trial, we evaluated the ability of rhIL-3 to mobilize peripheral blood stem cells in patients with lymphoid malignancies. Six patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) and two patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) who were to receive high-dose therapy and peripheral stem cell transplantation, received rhIL-3 stimulation at the first 3 dose levels - 125 mcg/M2 (N = 3), 250 mcg/M2 (N = 3), and 500 mcg/M2 (N = 2). The patients ranged in age from 19-60 years (median 33) and had received a median of 1 chemotherapy regimen prior to the peripheral stem cell collection. The patients received rhIL-3 subcutaneously for a total of 14 days. They underwent stem cell apheresis prior to the first rhIL-3 dose as a base line and subsequently on days 5,8,11,13 and 14 of the rhIL-3 administration. The median baseline CFU-GM was 0.02 x 10(4)/kg, 0.04 x 10(4)/kg, and 0.01 x 10(4)/kg for patients at the 125 mcg/M2, 250 mcg/M2, and 500 mcg/M2 doses respectively. This rose to a peak median value of 0.25 x 10(4)/kg, 0.15 x 10(4)/kg, and 0.02 x 10(4)/kg for each of respective dose levels. The median BFU-E and CFU-Meg values also rose with rhIL-3 administration; however, not consistently. These preliminary results document the effectiveness of peripheral stem cell recruitment by rHIL-3 for use with high-dose therapy and peripheral stem cell transplantation.