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Autografting

Contaminating tumour cells in autologous PBSC grafts do not influence survival or relapse following transplant for multiple myeloma or B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 43, pages 223–228 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Relapsed disease remains a major obstacle following autologous haematopoietic SCT (HSCT) for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and multiple myeloma (MM). Studies regarding the importance of detectable tumour cells in PBSC collections have been inconclusive. Patients undergoing autologous HSCT for NHL and MM between 2001 and 2006 were enrolled (n=158). PBSC grafts were assessed for clonal IgH CDR3 gene rearrangements using qualitative semi-nested PCR. In comparison to patients with PCR-positive PBSC grafts, patients negative for detectable disease had no improvement in overall survival (OS) or PFS for MM (P=0.91 and 0.91) or NHL (P=0.82 and 0.85). Further, no significant difference in OS was observed between patients with PCR-positive compared with PCR-negative PBSC grafts with aggressive NHL histology (P=0.74) or indolent disease (P=0.29). Patients with contaminating tumour cells in autologous PBSCs do not have worsened OS or PFS in MM or NHL. Tumour cells detected by sensitive molecular methods in PBSC collections may be distinct from cells contaminating marrow and appear to have limited utility in identifying patients with MM and B-cell NHL who would benefit from purging strategies.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the support of Canadian Blood Services (CBS). DSA is an Adjunct Scientist at CBS. The database of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at The Ottawa Hospital received support from The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, BMT Research and Education Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

    J Ho, B Banihashemi, H Atkins, M Sabloff, L B Huebsch, I Bence-Bruckler & D S Allan

  2. Canadian Blood Services, Stem Cell Processing Laboratory, Ottawa, Canada

    L Yang, L Martin, M Halpenny & A Giulivi

  3. Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

    H Atkins, M Sabloff, S A McDiarmid, L B Huebsch, I Bence-Bruckler & D S Allan

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  1. J Ho
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Correspondence to D S Allan.

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Ho, J., Yang, L., Banihashemi, B. et al. Contaminating tumour cells in autologous PBSC grafts do not influence survival or relapse following transplant for multiple myeloma or B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Bone Marrow Transplant 43, 223–228 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2008.318

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