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Pediatric Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version

Collection and Storage of Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) procedures require collection of growth-factor–mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) from patients using leukapheresis. Bone marrow can be used for autologous transplants, but PBSCs lead to quicker blood count recovery, resulting in less transplant-related toxicity.

Patients being considered for autologous HSCT are generally given chemotherapy to determine tumor responsiveness and minimize the risk of tumor contamination in their bone marrow. After a number of rounds of chemotherapy, patients undergo the leukapheresis procedure, either as their blood counts recover from chemotherapy or during a break between chemotherapy treatments. Growth factors such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor are used to increase the number of circulating stem and progenitor cells (CD34+ cells). Collection centers monitor the number of CD34-positive cells in the patient and product each day to determine the best time to begin collection and when collection is complete. Patients with low numbers of CD34-positive cells before collection can often have their cells successfully collected using alternative mobilization approaches (e.g., addition of plerixafor).[1] The collected PBSCs are cryopreserved for later use. After completion of an intensive preparative regimen using high-dose chemotherapy, which varies according to the tumor type, the PBSCs are given to the patient at the time of transplant.

References
  1. Patel B, Pearson H, Zacharoulis S: Mobilisation of haematopoietic stem cells in paediatric patients, prior to autologous transplantation following administration of plerixafor and G-CSF. Pediatr Blood Cancer 62 (8): 1477-80, 2015. [PUBMED Abstract]

General Indications and Considerations for Autologous Procedures

Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) Indications for Solid Tumors and Lymphomas

In pediatrics, the most common autologous HSCT indications are for the treatment of some solid tumors and lymphomas.

Autologous transplants have also been used to reset the immune system in patients with severe autoimmune disorders and to enable engraftment of genetically modified autologous hematopoietic stem cell progenitors to correct or ameliorate inherited disorders (e.g., immunodeficiencies, metabolic disorders, and hemoglobinopathies). These indications are not covered in this summary.

Indications for HSCT vary over time as risk classifications for a given malignancy change and the efficacy of primary therapy improves. It is best to include specific indications in the context of complete therapy for any given disease.

With this in mind, links to sections in specific summaries that cover the most common pediatric autologous HSCT indications are provided below.

  1. Neuroblastoma.
  2. Brain tumors. Indications for young patients to reduce or eliminate cranial radiation therapy; indications for responsive tumors at relapse.
  3. Germ cell tumors (GCTs) (intracranial and extracranial).
  4. Retinoblastoma.
  5. Hodgkin lymphoma.
  6. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

For autologous transplants to result in cure of malignancies, the following must apply:

  • A dose-intensified chemotherapy regimen (with or without radiation therapy) with hematopoietic stem cell support is used to achieve a significantly higher cell kill than could be achieved without the use of hematopoietic stem cell support. This approach may include increased tumor kill in areas where standard-dose chemotherapy has less penetration (central nervous system).
  • Meaningful percentages of cure or long-term remission from the disease must occur without significant nonhematopoietic toxicities that would otherwise limit the therapeutic benefit achieved.

The tumor-specific activity and intensity of agents used for autologous regimens have been shown to be important in improving survival.

The contamination of the collected stem cell product by persistent tumor cells is a concern with autologous approaches. Although techniques have been developed to remove or purge tumor cells from products, studies to date have shown no benefit to tumor purging.[1]

References
  1. Kreissman SG, Seeger RC, Matthay KK, et al.: Purged versus non-purged peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation for high-risk neuroblastoma (COG A3973): a randomised phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol 14 (10): 999-1008, 2013. [PUBMED Abstract]

Latest Updates to This Summary (06/13/2024)

The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above.

This summary was comprehensively reviewed.

This summary is written and maintained by the PDQ Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board, which is editorially independent of NCI. The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or NIH. More information about summary policies and the role of the PDQ Editorial Boards in maintaining the PDQ summaries can be found on the About This PDQ Summary and PDQ® Cancer Information for Health Professionals pages.

About This PDQ Summary

Purpose of This Summary

This PDQ cancer information summary for health professionals provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed, evidence-based information about the use of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant in treating pediatric cancer. It is intended as a resource to inform and assist clinicians in the care of their patients. It does not provide formal guidelines or recommendations for making health care decisions.

Reviewers and Updates

This summary is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary by the PDQ Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board, which is editorially independent of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Board members review recently published articles each month to determine whether an article should:

  • be discussed at a meeting,
  • be cited with text, or
  • replace or update an existing article that is already cited.

Changes to the summaries are made through a consensus process in which Board members evaluate the strength of the evidence in the published articles and determine how the article should be included in the summary.

The lead reviewers for Pediatric Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant are:

  • Thomas G. Gross, MD, PhD (National Cancer Institute)
  • Michael A. Pulsipher, MD (Huntsman Cancer Institute at University of Utah)

Any comments or questions about the summary content should be submitted to Cancer.gov through the NCI website's Email Us. Do not contact the individual Board Members with questions or comments about the summaries. Board members will not respond to individual inquiries.

Levels of Evidence

Some of the reference citations in this summary are accompanied by a level-of-evidence designation. These designations are intended to help readers assess the strength of the evidence supporting the use of specific interventions or approaches. The PDQ Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board uses a formal evidence ranking system in developing its level-of-evidence designations.

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The preferred citation for this PDQ summary is:

PDQ® Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board. PDQ Pediatric Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Updated <MM/DD/YYYY>. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/childhood-cancers/hp-stem-cell-transplant/autologous. Accessed <MM/DD/YYYY>. [PMID: 35133767]

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