How are stem cells harvested ?
ARC: Autologous stem cells are collected when the patients exhibit a low level of detectable disease by cytogenetic or molecular testing. Granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)is used for mobilizing the stem cells from the marrow into peripheral blood where they are collected by a process known as leukapheresis. There was some concern of mobilizing stem cells during uninterrupted imatinib therapy because of c-kit inhibition.
