Myeloablative single-unit umbilical cord blood transplantation (sUCBT) using busulfan, thiotepa, fludarabine, and antithymocyte globulin (Grupo Español de Trasplante Hematopoyético [GETH]-2005 protocol) resulted in high rates of engraftment and high antitumor activity. We designed a new graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis, substituting long-term steroids with mycophenolate mofetil together with a slight reduction of antithymocyte globulin (GETH/Gruppo Italiano Trapianto Midollo Osseo [GITMO]-2008 protocol). The results in 145 consecutive patients were compared with those obtained in 88 patients from the previous GETH-2005 trial. The cumulative incidence (CI) of myeloid engraftment at 60 days for patients in the GETH-2005 and GETH/GITMO-2008 trials was 94% and 88%, respectively, at a median time to neutrophil recovery of 19 and 23 days, respectively (P < .0001). In the multivariable analyses, platelet engraftment, acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease, nonrelapse mortality, relapse, and event-free survival were not significantly different. The 3-year event-free survival rate in the GETH/GITMO-2008 trial was 66%, 31%, and 25% for patients transplanted in early, intermediate, and advanced stages of the disease, respectively (P < .0001). This study confirms that myeloablative sUCBT using busulfan-based conditioning is a valuable strategy for patients with hematological malignancies. The use of mycophenolate mofetil apparently had an adverse effect on myeloid engraftment, and therefore a cautious use of this agent is warranted in the UCBT setting.

SUMMARY In the last twenty years, the possibilities for transplantation have increased considerably with the introduction of alternative stem cell sources such as cord blood. The biggest benefits are the increase in availability of cord blood and the possibility to transplant units with more than one human leukocyte antigen mismatch, even if the dose cell limitation is critical, especially in adult transplants. The use of double cord blood units is one of the potential strategies that seem to overcome the cell dose limitation, improving engraftment and final transplant outcome.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) represents the first choice of treatment or an important therapeutic option for several diseases, but it is still marked by morbidity and mortality. In contrast, the donation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is considered to be a safe procedure. The invaluable ethical source of donation and its central role in transplantation implies that the greatest attention be due to the donor and to the donation process through a serious monitoring protocol for donor safety. Both the Joint Accreditation Committee and the European Committee pay particular attention to the notification of adverse events and adverse reactions. Bone marrow donation is a well established procedure, that has now been performed for >30 years. Although it does not require drug administration, there is hospital admission for 1-3 days with 7-10 days off work. The main risk is related to the anesthesia. Pain in the aspiration area, together with astenia are considered to be the most frequent side effects, as shown by the USA National Marrow Donor Program experience in 1,193 donations. In the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation analysis performed between 1993 and 2005 on 27,770 first HSCTs from bone marrow, only 1 fatal event (pulmonary embolism) and 12 serious adverse events were observed. The most frequent adverse events were cardiac. The incidence of adverse events was significantly lower (P <.05) compared with peripheral blood HSC donors, which confirms the necessity of accurate attention to donor selection and evaluation in bone marrow donation.

Abstract Abstract 4560 Introduction The G-CSF, primary regulator of granulopoiesis, has shown its efficacy in reducing duration of neutropenia after chemotherapy or myelosuppressive therapy. In these situations G-CSF, accelerating the granulocytous reconstitution, may enable a significant reduction of the incidence, duration and severity of infection. Commercially formulations of rHu-G-CSF include lenograstim, a glycosylated form, and filgrastim, a non-glycosylated form. Glycosylation of the molecule contribute to pharmacokynetis advantages and to higher affinity to specific receptor. Additionally, lenograstim exposed neutrophils maintain unchanged all their functions in vitro, while filgrastim exposed neutrophils present functional defects due to higher adhesivity, cytoscheletric alterations and a more immature phenotype. Aim On these bases, we hypotized that lenograstim may prevent febrile episodes (FE) and reduce their lasting in patients with chemotherapy derived neutropenia more efficiently than filgrastim. Primary endpoint is the incidence of FE (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT00932217). Patients and methods starting from April 2005, 180 multiple myeloma patients achieving high dose cyclophosphamide for stem cells mobilization were enrolled in 11 Italian Centers. Treatment plan consisted in: high dose cyclophosphamide (3 or 4 g/sqm) on day 1, G-CSF (random 1:1 on the base of a generated random list: filgrastim or lenograstim) 30 MU/day from day +4 to +9, 60 MU/day from day +10 to the achievement of an optimal CD34+ cell count for staminoapheresis. FE, significant if equal or higher than 38 °C for at least 2 different determinations, were recorded till day +30. Results 176 of 180 patients received scheduled treatment and are eligible for final analyses. All 176 patients underwent post-chemo grade 4 neutropenia and G-CSF was administered starting from day +4. FE were recorded in 26 pts, 16 in the filgrastim arm (89 total patients) and 10 in the lenograstim arm (87 total patients). The global fever incidence was 14.77%, 17.98% with filgrastim and 11.49% with lenograstim. However, to demonstrate functional block of filgrastim exposed neutrophils, FE have been related to neutrophil absolute count. Related to the neutropenia grade, 8 FE are recorded with filgrastim (8.99%) and 1 FE with lenograstim (1.15%) with absolute neutrophil count >500/μL (grade 3) (chi square test with Yates' correction: p=0.0436); this difference is still evident when neutrophils are >1000/μL (grade 2), with 7 episodes with filgrastim (7.87%) versus 1 (1.15%) with lenograstim. Conclusions Lenograstim is associated with a reduced global incidence of FE in multiple myeloma patients undergoing to high dose cyclophosphamide and stem cells mobilization when compared to filgrastim. Additionally, excluding the time frame when neutrophils are not yet recovered (neutrophils <500/μL; grade 4 neutropenia) and G-CSF effects may not be demonstrated, filgrastim treated patients present, when compared to lenograstim treated patients, an higher FE incidence at neutrophil absolute count recovery (both with grade 3 and grade 2 neutropenia), confirming the functional block of filgrastim exposed neutrophils described in vitro. On the contrary, lenograstim allows to recovery normally functional neutrophils as demonstrated by the very low incidence of FE (1.15% with neutrophils >500/μL) in treated patients. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.