Extensive pretreatment has been identified as a significant risk factor for failure of sufficient PBSC mobilization. From published data and our own experience we defined pretreatment variables which render patients at risk for not collecting at least 2.5 x 10(6) CD34-positive cells per kg bodyweight (BW). These variables were previous unsuccessful PBSC mobilization trial, previous large field radiotherapy, four or more cycles of myelosuppressive chemotherapy regimens, and combinations of extended field radiotherapy plus chemotherapy. Based on these inclusion criteria we treated 19 patients with disease-specific conventional-dose chemotherapy followed by sequential subcutaneous administration of IL-3 (5 microg/kg BW) for 5 consecutive days and G-CSF (10 microg/kg) until PBSC collection or neutrophil recovery. Patients were 10 males and nine females with a median age of 43 years. Diagnoses were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma n = 5, Hodgkin's disease n = 2, multiple myeloma n = 2, CML n = 4, AML n = 4 and testicular cancer n = 2. Twelve patients had prior unsuccessful trial of PBSC mobilization with chemotherapy followed by G-CSF. Except for mobilization chemotherapy-related neutropenic fever, no major toxicities (WHO grade > or = 2) were observed. Growth factors were well tolerated. Collection of at least 2.5 x 10(6) CD34-positive cells per kg BW was possible in 11 out of 19 patients (58%). In five out of 12 patients with a previous unsuccessful trial of PBSC mobilization, the study regimen mobilized sufficient CD34-positive cells. Nine patients went on to high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous PBSC transplantation. Prompt hematologic recovery was seen in all of them. In conclusion, the sequential administration of IL-3 followed by G-CSF after conventional-dose chemotherapy allows successful PBSC collection in the majority of extensively pretreated patients.