[Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation: present status and future prospects].

This is a comprehensive review of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Collection of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) does not require anesthesia and is less invasive compared to harvesting marrow cells. As the hematopoietic recovery speed after autologous PBSCT is fast, the procedure is associated with less complication compared to marrow transplantation. Thus, high-dose therapy can safely be administered, without the use of aseptic measures, in a larger number of hospitals. Preliminary therapeutic results for the treatment of relapsed childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia appears to be equivalent to that obtained by application of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Alternate use of PBSC includes routine application after consolidation therapy as one of growth factors. Use of PBSC in allogeneic setting has been under intense investigation. Collection, processing and storage of PBSC will shortly become a part of routine procedure in major blood centers and banks.