Plerixafor injection: a hematopoietic stem cell mobilizer in non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma

ABSTRACT

Introduction: A combination of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and chemotherapy or G-CSF alone are the most common mobilization regimens for autotransplantations. Plerixafor is used for mobilization of CD34⁺ cells with G-CSF in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and myeloma (MM) patients.

Areas covered: The available phase II and III data on plerixafor has been reviewed. The efficacy of plerixafor in the mobilization of CD34⁺ cells in predicted poor mobilizers as well as in patients who had failed a mobilization has been evaluated. The pre-emptive use of plerixafor as well as studies on cost-effectiveness are covered. Also effects in the composition of the collected grafts along with the data on long-term outcome of plerixafor-mobilized patients is discussed.

Expert commentary: Plerixafor combined with G-CSF mobilizes CD34⁺ cells more efficiently than G-CSF alone in patients with NHL or MM. In phase III studies, engraftment after high-dose therapy has been comparable to G-CSF mobilized patients. The pre-emptive use of plerixafor added to mobilization with chemotherapy plus G-CSF or with G-CSF alone has gained more popularity. This approach may be more cost-effective than the routine use of this drug. The changes observed in the composition of grafts after plerixafor injection may have implications for post-transplant events.

KEYWORDS:

• Plerixafor
• stem cell mobilization
• lymphoma
• myeloma
• poor mobilization
• graft content
• outcome
• costs

Declaration of interest

E Jantunen has received honoraria from Genzyme/Sanofi and Amgen and has participated in Medical Advisory Board meetings organized by Amgen, Takeda and TEVA. V Varmavuo has received consultancy fees from Roche, Celgene, Amgen and Sanofi.

J Valtola has received honoraria from Sanofi and Jansen-Cilag. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.