Cryopreserved mobilized autologous blood progenitors stored for more than 2 years successfully support blood count recovery after high-dose chemotherapy

Abstract Background aims The ability of hematopoietic progenitor cells–apheresis (HPC-A) that have been stored for many years after cryopreservation to reconstitute hematopoiesis following high-dose chemo/radiotherapy has not been well-documented. Methods In this retrospective study, eight Canadian centers contributed data from 53 autologous stem cell transplants (ASCT) performed using HPC-A that had undergone long-term storage (>2 years, range 2–7 years) and 120 ASCT using HPC-A stored for 0.5 × 109 /L (median 11 days for both short- and long-term storage) and platelets >20 × 109 /L (median 12 and 11 for short- and long-term storage, respectively) post-ASCT were not significantly different between the two groups. When ASCT performed with 5 years also showed similar count recoveries as the entire long-term storage group (median 11 days for both ANC and platelets). Conclusions Cryopreserved HPC-A can be stored for at least 5 years with no apparent loss in their ability to support hematopoietic reconstitution after high-dose chemotherapy.