Turunen, A. (Antti), Partanen, A. (Anu), Valtola, J. (Jaakko), Ropponen, A. (Antti), Siitonen, T. (Timo), Kuittinen, O. (Outi), Kuitunen, H. (Hanne), Putkonen, M. (Mervi), Sankelo, M. (Marja), Keskinen, L. (Leena), Savolainen, E. (Eeva‐Riitta), Pyörälä, M. (Marja), Kuittinen, T. (Taru), Silvennoinen, R. (Raija), Penttilä, K. (Karri), Sikiö, A. (Anu), Vasala, K. (Kaija), Mäntymaa, P. (Pentti), Pelkonen, J. (Jukka), Varmavuo, V. (Ville), and Jantunen, E. (Esa)
Background: Autologous stem cell transplantation is an established treatment option for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) or non‐Hodgkinʼs lymphoma (NHL). Study design and methods: In this prospective multicenter study, 147 patients with MM were compared with 136 patients with NHL regarding the mobilization and apheresis of blood CD34+ cells, cellular composition of infused blood grafts, posttransplant recovery, and outcome. Results: Multiple myeloma patients mobilized CD34+ cells more effectively (6.3 × 10⁶/kg vs. 3.9 × 10⁶/kg, p = 0.001). The proportion of poor mobilizers (peak blood CD34+ cell count 100 days) nonrelapse mortality (NRM; 6% vs. 0%, p = 0.003). Conclusions: Non‐Hodgkinʼs lymphoma and MM patients differ in terms of mobilization of CD34+ cells, graft cellular composition, and posttransplant recovery. Thus, the optimal graft characteristics may also be different.