Evaluation of a new cell separator for collection of peripheral blood CD34+ progenitor cells in pediatric patients

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of the COM.TEC cell separator (Fresenius HemoCare GmbH) for collecting CD34+ cells in pediatric patients who were intended to have autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation, with respect to collection variables, prediction power of CD34+ cell yield, and influence on donors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 26 pediatric solid tumor patients who received mobilization chemotherapy and granulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor underwent CD34+ cell collection (n = 96) using the COM.TEC auto mononuclear cell (MNC) program. Patients were divided into a neuroblastoma (NBL) group and a brain tumor group according to the intensity of prior chemotherapy regimens. The collection variables, cellular variables of leukapheresis products, and the peripheral blood cell counts of patients were compared with those acquired using the COBE Spectra (GambroBCT). The CD34+ cell collection efficiency (CE) and the percentage ratios of actual to predicted CD34+ cell yield indicating prediction power were analyzed. RESULTS: Using the COM.TEC auto MNC program, the processing rate was higher and the product volume was smaller (p