Autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation mobilized with high-dose cytarabine in acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission

Background: The aim of this study was to increase disease-free survival (DFS) in AML in CRI using a high-dose cytarabine consolidation plus G-CSF as in vivo purging and mobilization of CD34+ cells before ablative therapy and peripheral blood autograft. Patients and methods. Fifty-six consecutive AML patients (pts) (including 11 children <15 years), with a median age of 32 years, were analyzed. After achievement of CR with cytarabine-mitoxantrone (7 + 3) in adults and a BFM-like protocol in children, pts were intensified with cytarabine 2 g/m(2) x six doses plus mitoxantrone for adults, or, 3 g/m x six doses plus etoposide for children, followed by G-CSF 5 mu g/kg SC daily. The ablative regimens used were busulfan and cyclophosphamide (Bu/Cy) in standard-risk pts plus etoposide (2400 mg/m(2)) for high-risk pts. Results. For the 54 pts who underwent autologous transplant, the median time to reach >1.0 x 10(9)/l neutrophils was 13 days (8-48), and to reach platelets >25 x 10(9)/l 32 days (8-364), and the median numbers of red blood cell and platelet units transfuse were 3 and 5, respectively. Six pts had treatment-related deaths (11%). The disease-free survival and overall survival at 30 months (mos) for the 56 eligible pts were 61% and 62%, respectively. Only two relapses were observed after 21 mos, while there were 12 relapses within 12 mos. Conclusions. The above treatment results in a similar DFS rate as does rescue with bone marrow cells, with faster neutrophil and platelet recovery.