Clinical use of plerixafor in combination with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Correspondence: Richard T Maziarz Medical Director, Adult Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant Program, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA Tel +1503-494-4606 Fax +1 503-418-4054 Email maziarzr@ohsu.edu Abstract: Plerixafor is a CXC4:CXCL12 antagonist that has an expanding role in the stem cell mobilization phase of the hematopoietic stem cell transplant procedure. The drug is currently licensed by the FDA to be used in combination with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells into the peripheral blood for collection and subsequent autologous transplantations in patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Plerixafor is particularly useful in patients who have been heavily pretreated or as effective therapy for frontline salvage of poor peripheral blood stem cells mobilizers. In conjunction with G-CSF, plerixafor can be successful in decreasing the number of apheresis days and therefore the associated additional risks and cost of more apheresis procedures. Patients taking plerixafor, when compared to the side effect profile of G-CSF alone, do not report significantly more side effects.