How it is administered

Plerixafor is given as a subcutaneous injection (an injection under the skin). It is supplied as a clear, colorless to pale-yellow solution in single-dose vials, with each mL containing 20 mg of plerixafor. The dose is based on your body weight and is usually given about 11 hours before the collection of stem cells (apheresis). Most patients receive plerixafor for up to 4 consecutive days, in combination with another medication called filgrastim (G-CSF), which is started 4 days before the first plerixafor dose.

How it works

Plerixafor works by blocking a receptor called CXCR4 on the surface of certain blood cells. Normally, this receptor helps keep hematopoietic stem cells (the cells that can become all types of blood cells) anchored in the bone marrow. By blocking CXCR4, plerixafor causes these stem cells to move from the bone marrow into the bloodstream, where they can be collected more easily for transplantation.

This process is called 'stem cell mobilization.' In patients with multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who are preparing for an autologous stem cell transplant (using their own stem cells), plerixafor is used in combination with filgrastim to increase the number of stem cells in the blood. These cells are then collected and later returned to the patient after high-dose chemotherapy. Plerixafor does not treat cancer directly but helps make stem cell collection more successful.

Who Should take it

Plerixafor is used in combination with filgrastim to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells into the bloodstream for collection and later autologous transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This is especially helpful for patients who may have difficulty collecting enough stem cells with filgrastim alone.

If your doctor has recommended an autologous stem cell transplant as part of your treatment for multiple myeloma, plerixafor may be used to help collect enough stem cells for the procedure. It is not used as a direct treatment for cancer, but as a supportive medication to improve the success of stem cell collection.

Who should not take it

Plerixafor should not be used in patients who have had a previous severe allergic reaction (hypersensitivity) to plerixafor. Signs of a serious allergic reaction include hives, swelling around the eyes, trouble breathing, or low blood pressure.

Plerixafor is not intended for use in patients with leukemia, as it may mobilize cancerous cells into the bloodstream. It should also be used with caution in patients with kidney problems, and the dose may need to be adjusted. Pregnant women should avoid plerixafor because it can cause harm to the unborn baby. The safety and effectiveness in children have not been established.

Commonly used with

Plerixafor is always used in combination with filgrastim (G-CSF). Filgrastim is given for several days before and during the plerixafor treatment to further increase the number of stem cells in the bloodstream.

These two medications work together to make stem cell collection more effective for patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation.

Commonly tested with

Clinical studies have tested plerixafor in combination with filgrastim in patients with multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The combination has been compared to filgrastim alone (with or without placebo) to assess the effectiveness of stem cell mobilization and collection.

Plerixafor is not typically tested with other cancer drugs during the mobilization phase, as its main purpose is to aid in stem cell collection prior to high-dose chemotherapy and transplantation.