Plerixafor and G-CSF for autologous stem cell mobilization in patients with NHL, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma: results from the expanded access program

Before US regulatory approval, an expanded access program provided plerixafor to patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HD) or multiple myeloma (MM) who had not previously failed mobilization and were otherwise candidates for auto-SCT. Patients received granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF) 10 mcg/kg daily and plerixafor 0.24 mg/kg starting on day 4 with apheresis on day 5; all repeated daily until collection was complete. Overall, 104 patients received ⩾1 dose of plerixafor. The addition of plerixafor to G-CSF resulted in a median threefold increase in peripheral blood CD34+ cell count between days 4 and 5. Among 43 NHL patients, 74% met the target of ⩾5 × 10 6 CD34+ cells/kg (median, 1 day apheresis, range 1–5 days); among 7 HD patients, 57% met the target of ⩾5 × 10 6 CD34+ cells/kg (median, 2 days apheresis, range 1–3); and among 54 MM patients, 89% met the target of ⩾6 × 10 6 CD34+ cells/kg (median, 1 day apheresis, range 1–4). Overall, 93% of patients had ⩾2 × 10 6 CD34+ cells/kg collected within 1–3 days. Plerixafor-related toxicities were minimal. Engraftment kinetics, graft durability and transplant outcomes demonstrated no unexpected outcomes. Efficacy and safety results were similar to results in phase II and III clinical trials.