Non-Cryopreserved Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Graft for Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma and Lymphoma Patients

BACKGROUND: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) using cryopreserved grafts is time-consuming, expensive treatment, and may associated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) toxicity. Here, we assess the clinical utility and safety of non-cryopreserved peripheral blood stem cell graft in autologous HSCT. MATERIAL/METHODS: Medical data of multiple myeloma or lymphoma patients who underwent autologous non-cryopreserved HSCT were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 58 patients (40 myeloma and 18 lymphoma) were reviewed. The median myeloma and lymphoma CD34(+) cell doses were 7.59 and 6.9 million/kg, respectively, with good viability after storage. The median times in neutrophil and platelet engraftment were 9 and 13 days and 11 and 14 days in myeloma and lymphoma, respectively. Only 5 patients in this cohort developed serious post-transplant complications. After transplantation, the cumulative incidence of relapse at 5 years was 34.4% in myeloma versus 19.1% in lymphoma patients. Notably, the mortality incidence rate rapidly increased within the first year and reached a plateau after 4 years, with cumulative incidence of 5.9% and 30.9% in myeloma and lymphoma, respectively. With a median follow-up time of 60 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for lymphoma patients was 123.8 and 130 months, respectively. For the myeloma group, the median follow-up time was 38.6 months, the median PFS was 99.5 months, and OS was 157 months. CONCLUSIONS: Non-cryopreserved HSCT is effective and safe. The long-term survival outcomes could be achieved by the shortening the duration of neutrophil and platelet engraftments and the complication rates are acceptable.