CellPro Inc. on Thursday said it has begun previously announced Phase III humanclinical trials of its Ceprate SC Stem Cell Concentration System in autologous bone marrowtransplantation to treat breast cancer.

The randomized, multicenter trial is designed to demonstrate engraftment of marrowpurified for stem cells with the system, the Seattle company said.

Patients will undergo either a standard bone marrow transplantation or a bone marrowtransplantation procedure using marrow stem cells purified using a CellPro system, thecompany said. In an effort to shorten engraftment times, patients in both groups willreceive Amgen Inc.’s Neupogen, a human granulocyte colony stimulating factor, thecompany said. Amgen is co-sponsoring the trial.