A randomized evaluation of vinorelbine versus gemcitabine chemotherapy mobilization of stem cells in myeloma patients

Background: In myeloma patients, a non-myelosuppressive regimen combining a single dose of vinorelbine chemotherapy together with G-CSF is safe and effective to harvest peripheral blood progenitor and stem cells (PBSC) before autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Considering its neurotoxic potential, vinorelbine may aggravate pre-existing bortezomib-induced polyneuropathy, and gemcitabine represents an alternative mobilization regimen. We have reported that monotherapy with gemcitabine together with G-CSF can be used as a promising alternative mobilization chemotherapy to vinorelbine, even more so as gemcitabine avoids neurotoxicity associated with vinorelbine