Stem cell factor

Abstract

I. INTRODUCTION Efforts to understand mutations in inbred laboratory mice leading to abnormalities of coat color, hematopoiesis, and fertility began 4 decades ago and were ultimately explained after the characterization of stem cell factor (SCF) and its receptor, c-kit. The history, biochemistry, and preclinical biology of SCF have been described in an extensive review by Galli et al. (1) and elsewhere (2-6). (Note that reviews are frequently cited as references; reviews are indicated as such at the end of their citations in the reference list.) The purpose of this chapter is to focus on clinical studies of patients undergoing transplantation of hematopoietic peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs), and to relate these recent observations to preclinical findings and relevant clinical questions: Will SCF, when combined with filgrastim [granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)], be useful in PBPC transplantation? Will the combination mobilize increased numbers of PBPCs and improve the yield of leukapheresis? Will this facilitate multiple cycles of high-dose chemotherapy? Will SCF/filgrastim-mobilized PBPCs shorten the time to engraftment? Will adding SCF to filgrastim increase the number of patients who are candidates for PBPC transplantation?.