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Autologous PBSC transplantation is a preferred treatment for patients with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein, and skin changes (POEMS syndrome). However, data on stem cell mobilization in POEMS syndrome are limited. We retrospectively reviewed outcomes and factors prognostic of mobilization in newly diagnosed patients with POEMS syndrome. A total of 56 patients (41 men and 15 women) were included and the median age was 45 years (range, 24-62). All patients underwent mobilization with CY plus granulocyte CSF (G-CSF) (n=38) or G-CSF alone (n=18). The median total number of harvested CD34+ cells was 2.01 × 10(6)/kg (range, 0.18-9.0 × 10(6)/kg). In all, 29 (51.8%) patients failed to yield more than 2 × 10(6)/kg CD34+ cells, and among them, 7 (12.5%) patients yielded <1 × 10(6)/kg CD34+ cells. The overall mobilization-related morbidity was 23.3% and acute renal failure was the most common complication during mobilization. Multivariate analysis showed that hepatomegaly (odds ratio 0.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01-0.43) and mobilization regimen of G-CSF alone (odds ratio 0.08, 95% CI 0.01-0.70) were independent prognostic factors for successful mobilization in POEMS syndrome. In conclusion, mobilization in newly diagnosed patients with POEMS syndrome is challenging with low yield of CD34+ cells and high morbidity. Induction therapy before mobilization might improve the efficacy and safety of mobilization.

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) can achieve excellent clinical responses in patients with POEMS syndrome (Jimenez Zepeda et al., Blood 2010;116:2403; Gertz et al., Am J Hematol 2005;79:319-328; Gherardi et al., Ann Neurol 1994;35:501-505; Gattinoni et al., Nat Rev Immunol 2006;6:383-393; Salem et al., J Immunol 2009;182:2030-2040; Salem et al., Cancer Immunol Immunother 2010;59:341-353; Salem et al., Cell Immunol 2010;261:134-143). However, High-dose melphalan with ASCT should be considered carefully due to its treatment-related morbidity (Vuckovic et al., Blood 2003;101:2314-2317), especially in patients with poor performance status owing to polyneuropathy and multiorgan involvement, such as cardiac, respiratory, and renal failure. Significant increases in the concentration of circulating macrophage colony-stimulating factor, erythropoietin, IL-6, and TNF-α, reach near maximal values at approximately day +12, predating neutrophil engraftment, and clinically manifest with fever, rash and edema (Dispenzieri et al., Eur J Haematol 2008;80:397-406). Depending on the definition used, approximately 50% of patients satisfied criteria for engraftment syndrome (ES) (Vuckovic et al., Blood 2003;101:2314-2317). ES occurs in 27-47% of patients who undergo ASCT; mortality rate is reported from 8% to 18% (Gattinoni et al., Nat Rev Immunol 2006;6:383-393; Vuckovic et al., Blood 2003;101:2314-2317). We have therefore reviewed our experience with ASCT in patients with POEMS syndrome who were treated with cyclophosphamide and prednisone as induction therapy followed by cyclophosphamide mobilization with an emphasis on treatment-related morbidity and frequency of ES. Our study confirms that ASCT is a feasible and efficacious treatment for patients with POEMS syndrome. In addition, the use of CP followed by cyclophosphamide mobilization decreases the incidence of PES leading to less morbidity and mortality rates., (2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)