CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cell dose as a predictor of engraftment and survival in multiple myeloma patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation

Authors: ELİFCAN ALADAĞ KARAKULAK, HALUK DEMİROĞLU, YAHYA BÜYÜKAŞIK, MEHMET TURGUT, SALİH AKSU, NİLGÜN SAYINALP, İBRAHİM CELALETTİN HAZNEDAROĞLU, OSMAN İLHAMİ ÖZCEBE, HAKAN GÖKER

Abstract: Background/aim: High-dose melphalan and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) is the standard treatment strategy for multiple myeloma (MM) patients who are eligible for it. The recommended dose of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) for adequate engraftment is above 2 × 106 /kg. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the dose of CD34+ HPCs and survival in MM patients who underwent AHSCT at a tertiary care center. Materials and methods: Enrolled in this study were 271 MM patients who underwent AHSCT between 2003 and 2019. Clinical characteristics of the patients, disease status pre-AHSCT, reinfused CD34+ cell doses, and neutrophil and platelet engraftment days were recorded, retrospectively. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether the dose of reinfused CD 34+ HPCs was <5 × 106/kg or ≥5 × 106 /kg. The groups were compared in terms of engraftment and overall survival (OS) times. Results: The median age of the patients was 54.8 (33-76) years. The median dose of infused CD34+ HPCs was 5.94 × 106 /kg (1.47-59.5 × 106 /kg). The median follow-up period was 54 months (4-211). The median OS of the patients was 103 months (11-144). The median neutrophil and platelet engraftment time was 10 (8-24) and 11 (7-40) days. Doses of <5 × 106 /kg and ≥5 × 106 /kg CD34+ HPC were reinfused in 38.1% and 61.9% of the patients, respectively. There was a negative significant correlation between the reinfused CD34+ cell level and neutrophil/platelet engraftment times (r = -0.32, P < 0.001; r = -0.27, P < 0.001, respectively). The median OS times were observed as 103 months (11-144) and 145 months (123-166) for patients who had been administered <5 × 106 /kg and ≥5 × 106 /kg of CD34+ HPCs, respectively (P = 0.009). Conclusion: The increased amount of CD34+ autologous hematopoietic stem cell dose after high dose melphalan chemotherapy in MM patients shortened the platelet and neutrophil engraftment time and increased OS. Early platelet engraftment and administration of a CD34+ HPC count that is <5 × 106 /kg can be considered as predictors of better survival in patients.

Keywords: Multiple myeloma, CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cell, engraftment, survival

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