Plerixafor: does weight-based or fixed-dose affect hematopoietic stem cell movement in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

This study investigated the effects of fixed-dose (FD) and weight-based (WB) dose plerixafor (Mozobil) on hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) movement in patients with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) weighing less than 11 stone. The main finding was that there was no significant difference in HSC movement with WB or FD plerixafor.

HSCs are stem cells located in the bone marrow. Plerixafor and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF; Filgrastim) are therapies commonly used in NHL. Plerixafor and G-CSF are used in combination to cause HSCs to move from the bone marrow to the blood. These SCs are then collected and transplanted. SC transplantation is a common treatment for NHL. Plerixafor is currently administered as a fixed dose. This means that each patient gets the same quantity of the medicine. Weight based means the dose is calculated based on each individual patient’s body weight.  It is important to investigate the effects of different types of dosing of plerixafor on HSC movement in NHL patients.

Sixty-one patients with NHL were included in this study. To cause HSC movement, all patients were administered G-CSF for 4 days. Thirty patients then received 20mg FD plerixafor. Thirty-one patients received 1.53mg/stone plerixafor (WB).

There was no significant difference in HSC movement between the two treatment groups. The patients who received FD had greater levels of plerixafor than those who received WB dose. However, this had no impact on HSC movement. Plerixafor appeared to have the same safety when administered as a FD or WB dose.

This study suggests that there is no significant difference in HSC movement in patients with NHL weighing less than 11 stone who received FD or WB plerixafor.

This study included on a small number of patients. Therefore the results may not be representative of a larger population with NHL.

If you have questions about your NHL, please ask your doctor.