Autologous transplantation of CD133 selected hematopoietic progenitor cells in a pediatric patient with relapsed leukemia.

A pediatric patient with very early meningeal relapse of his CD34(+) CD133(-) pre-B-ALL was transplanted with 2.5 x 10(6)/kg CD133 selected autologous progenitor cells. Enrichment of CD133(+) cells resulted in a purity of 92.3 +/- 3.5% CD133(+). Hematopoietic engraftment with >1.0 x 10(9)/l neutrophils and >50 x 10(9)/l platelets was reached within 13 and 24 days, respectively. At a follow-up of 11(1/2) months after autologous transplantation, the patient is in complete remission. To our knowledge, the successful transplantation with a CD133 selected graft is the first one to be reported worldwide. CD133 selected cells may serve as an alternative in the case of CD34(+) malignancy.