Mobilization and transplantation of Philadelphia chromosome-negative peripheral blood progenitor cells in patients with CML.

Mobilization and transplantation of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) was investigated in patients with stage IA or stage IIA chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) using combination chemotherapy with idarubicin, cytosine arabinoside and etoposide (ICE) followed by simultaneous administration of rhG-CSF and rhIL-2 or rhG-CSF alone. 17 patients (stage IA: 12; stage IIA: five) were mobilized. Chemotherapy, cytokine priming and collection of PBPCs were well tolerated.