Telomerase Activity Of CD34+ Cells - Marker For Mobilization Quality And Predictor For Engraftment After Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has revolutionized the curative approach to a number of malignancies by providing hematopoietic and immune rescue after high dose cytoreductive therapy. In cases of residual disease, patients are usually treated with chemotherapy to repress the disease, thereafter G-CSF injections are given serially to encourage stem cell proliferation in the bone marrow and mobilization of the stem/progenitor cells to the peripheral blood. Another approach, usually utilizes in myeloma patients is the administration of G-CSF in steady state (without administration of chemotherapy) and consequently collection of the CD34+ cells.

The minimum number of CD34+ cells threshold requires for HCT is currently defined as 2 x 10^6/kg. However, the optimal dose in terms of engraftment may be even higher (>5x10^6/kg), especially when platelet recovery is considered.

In clinical practice, the right timing for collection is decided upon measurement of CD34, a membrane glycoprotein of progenitors and stem-cells. CD34 levels are measured in the expected maximal effect of the G-CSF priming, and accordingly the collection is scheduled. Practically, if the circulating CD34+cell count is ≥20/μL, 90% of collections performed the following day would be expected to yield ≥2.0x106 CD34+cells/kg (Gordon, BMT 1997). However, in cases higher doses of CD34+ cells are required (e.g. for tandem HCT), CD34+ threshold may not be sufficient to determined collection yield.

G-CSF based mobilization regimens have a 5-30% failure rate amongst patients, however in patients with risk factors, up to 60% of the patients are failed to mobilize. Poor mobilization has significant consequences for the patient with potential loss of transplantation as a treatment option. Repeated attempts at mobilization increase resource utilization, morbidity and patient inconvenience. Therefore attempts to identify patients who would mobilize poorly are of clinical significance.

Human telomerase, a unique ribonucleoprotein complex, is inactive in normal somatic cells but present in high levels in more than 90% of all malignancies. The enzyme, synthesize new telomeric repeats at the 3' ends of chromosomes.