Patients mobilizing large numbers of CD34+ cells ('super mobilizers') have improved survival in autologous stem cell transplantation for lymphoid malignancies

The cellular composition of an autologous graft may influence autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) outcome. Etoposide (VP) plus filgrastim (G) frequently mobilizes high numbers of CD34+ cells for autologous transplantation. We investigated whether patients collecting high numbers of CD34+ cells ('super mobilizers') have a better outcome than other patients. We reviewed 350 consecutive adult patients with NHL or Hodgkin's lymphoma receiving an ASCT from January 1994 to December 2005, mobilized with VP+G. Super mobilizers were defined as collecting a minimum of 8 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg. Two hundred and three patients were super mobilizers, while 147 collected between 2.0 and 7.95 CD34+ cells/kg. Super mobilizers were younger and more likely to have received two or fewer prior chemotherapy regimens (80 versus 63%, P