Cytarabine assures a high concentration of circulating CD34+ cells during haematopoietic stem cells mobilization in lymphoma patients

Background Mobilization of haematopoietic stem cells for autologous transplantation in lymphoma patients currently lacks optimal and universally accepted protocol guidelines. Available mobilization procedures use either cytokines alone, predominantly granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, or cytokines in combination with chemotherapy. Chemomobilization may increase the CD34+ cell yield, and some studies indicate that a higher number of CD34+ cells reinfused is associated with better outcome after autologous haematopoietic stem cells transplantation. We aimed to compare the peak of CD34+ cells in peripheral blood between two alternative mobilization therapies in a retrospective cohort of patients affected by lymphoma.