Autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation mobilized with high-dose cytarabine in acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission

Background : The aim of this study was to increase disease-free survival (DFS) in AML in CRI using a high-dose cytarabine consolidation plus G-CSF as in vivo purging and mobilization of CD34+ cells before ablative therapy and peripheral blood autograft. Patients and methods : Fifty-six consecutive AML patients (pts) (including 11 children 1.0 x 10 9 /1 neutrophils was 13 days (8-48), and to reach platelets > 25 x 10 9 /1 32 days (8-364), and the median numbers of red blood cell and platelet units transfused were 3 and 5, respectively. Six pts had treatment-related deaths (11%). The disease-free survival and overall survival at 30 months (mos) for the 56 eligible pts were 61% and 62%, respectively. Only two relapses were observed after 21 mos, while there were 12 relapses within 12 mos. Conclusions: The above treatment results in a similar DFS rate as does rescue with bone marrow cells, with faster neutrophil and platelet recovery.