Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a widely used treatment method to cure malignant and nonmalignant diseases originated from hematological cells. Mobilization and collection of sufficient hematopoietic stem cells are the preconditions to ensure rapid and sustained hematopoietic reconstitution after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, the most commonly used granulocyte colony-stimulating factor with or without chemotherapy still has a mobilization failure rate of 10% to 40%.

To review the present status of hematopoietic stem cell mobilization in recent years, analyze the advantages and disadvantages of different mobilization plans, and be looking forward for new mobilization methods.

Using “hematopoietic stem cell, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, hematopoietic stem cell mobilization, cytokines, thrombopoietin, CXCR4 antagonists, integrin antagonist, chemotherapy, mobilization efficiency” as Chinese and English keywords, articles published from 1990 to 2024 were searched on CNKI, PubMed, and WanFang databases. A total of more than 300 articles were retrieved, and 68 articles were finally included.

More and more studies have found that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor combined with other agents including plerixafor, interleukins, thrombopoietin, and integrin antagonist could improve hematopoietic stem cell mobilization. Combined use can reduce the dose of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and related adverse reactions. Some new drugs, such as soluble recombinant FLT3-ligand (CDX-301) and dual α9β1/α4β1 integrin inhibitor BOP, can be combined with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to promote hematopoietic stem cell mobilization. In addition, some potential mobilization targets, such as prostaglandin E2 receptor and sphingosine 1-phosphate, are still in the research stage. In addition to inherent patient characteristics and treatment options, incorporating biomarkers into the factors affecting mobilization and developing new predictive models will help to effectively predict the failure of hematopoietic stem cell mobilization and improve stem cell mobilization technology.