Plerixafor is a novel kind of drug which administration leads to a hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSC) mobilization independently of chemotherapy or G-CSF. Plerixafor is a small molecule bicyclam derivate and inhibits reversibly the SDF-1/CXCR4 interaction, which belongs to the most important mechanisms binding HSC to the bone marrow microenvironment.
Inhibition of SDF-1/CXCR4 interaction results in a fast mobilization of HSC into a peripheral blood. Plerixafor is a very valuable substance especially for patients who are not able to mobilize sufficient numbers of HSC after GCSF +- chemotherapy and, therefore, who are not the candidates for autologous peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) transplantation because they are not able to collect adequate transplants.