Hematopoietic stem cell mobilization: yesterday and today

Abstract

The method of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) mobilization to peripheral blood enabled theirefficient collection from peripheral blood instead of bone marrow, for the purpose of autologousor allogeneic transplantation. Depending on the activity of the disease and on the need ofchemotherapeutic treatment, the current protocols of mobilization consist of granulocyte-colonystimulating factor (G-CSF) alone, or in combination with chemotherapy. The mobilizationsthat use these protocols are usually efficient, as it has been documented for the last 15 years oftheir use. Recently, the new mobilization strategy arose based on the discovery of plerixafor —a specific antagonist of the CXCR4 receptor. The numerous studies revealed its high efficacy ofHSC mobilization, especially when used in combination with G-CSF, and eventually chemotherapy.The current review presents the historical perspective of HSC mobilization, focusingon the last observations regarding the use of plerixafor.