The influence of cell concentration at cryopreservation on neutrophil engraftment after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

Abstract Background Peripheral blood stem cell concentrations are traditionally adjusted to 20–40 × 10 6  leukocytes/mL prior to freezing. This low cell concentration at cryopreservation implies larger volumes with more dimethyl sulfoxide being used, and higher cost and toxicity at the time of transplant. Higher cell concentrations have been reported but this is not widely accepted. Moreover, the influence of cell concentration on engraftment has not been well documented. Therefore, this study retrospectively analyzed the influence of peripheral blood stem cell concentration at freezing on engraftment after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Method Leukapheresis products were plasma-depleted and cryopreserved with 5% dimethyl sulfoxide, 6% hydroxyethylamide solution and 4% albumin in a −80 °C freezer. Individual patient data from hospital records were reviewed. Results Fifty consecutive patients with oncological diseases underwent 88 leukaphereses. Median age was six years (range: 1–32 years) and median weight was 19 kg (range: 8–94 kg). Median leukocyte concentration was 109 × 10 6 /mL at collection and 359 × 10 6 (range: 58–676 × 10 6 ) at freezing with 78% viability (range: 53–95%); leukocyte recovery after thawing was 95% (range: 70–100%). In multivariate analysis, cell concentration ( p -value = 0.001) had a negative impact on engraftment. Patients infused with bags frozen with 6  leukocytes/mL engrafted after a median of nine days (range: 8–12 days), 200–400 × 10 6  leukocytes/mL after 11 days (range: 9–20 days); 400–600 × 10 6  leukocytes/mL after 12 days (range: 8–19 days) and with cell concentrations >600 × 10 6  leukocytes/mL, engraftment was after 14 days (range: 13–22 days). Conclusion In patients with adequate CD34 cell collections, total leukocyte concentrations of 282 × 10 6 /mL, freezing with 5% dimethyl sulfoxide and 6% hydroxyethylamide solution without a controlled-rate freezer, and storing cells at −80 °C yielded excellent engraftment. Further increases in cell concentration may delay engraftment, without affecting safety.