Successful and safe stem cell mobilization using plerixafor in a patient with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Treatment of patients aff ected by Philadelphia chromosome- positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (PhALL) continues to be problematic in spite of the better complete response rates (75 - 95%) achieved with induction regimens based on tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), used either alone or in combination with conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy agents (1). Th e presence of the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) remains a primary indication for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), but for patients lacking a suitable donor other post-induction strategies need to be investigated. Reports published during the imatinib era, albeit limited in size and number, suggest that autologous HSCT needs to be reconsidered for patients with Phacute lymphoblas- tic leukemia (ALL) with low or negative molecular residual disease (MRD) at the end of remission-induction therapy (2,3). Unfortunately, patients older than 60 years and