High-dose therapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation for Hodgkin's disease patients with relapses potentially treatable by radical radiation therapy.
OBJECTIVE
A retrospective review evaluated the results of autologous bone marrow transplantation (A-BMT) for patients with relapsed Hodgkin's disease (HD) who were potentially treatable by radical radiation therapy (RRT).


METHODS
Evaluated patient cases met the following criteria: initial treatment with chemotherapy (with or without involved field radiation therapy < 25 Gy); no history of bone marrow or extensive lung involvement; no current or previous evidence of systemic metastases except liver; radiation therapy used with salvage chemotherapy for prior relapse would not preclude use of RRT (e.g., > 20 Gy to spinal cord); HD at time of salvage therapy limited to lymph nodes, Waldeyer's ring, liver, spleen, direct extension sites, and/or one lung.


RESULTS
There were 23 A-BMT patients treated between 1986 and 1991 who fulfilled the criteria. Three (13%) patients died from treatment-related complications and eight (35%) developed nonfatal Grade 3-4 complications. The 3-year actuarial disease-free survival rate was 61%. The 3-year disease-free survival rate was 55% for the nine patients with at least one prior disease-free interval (DFI) > 12 months, 67% for nine patients with DFI < 12 months, and 60% for five induction failure patients (p > 0.10). These results are comparable to retrospective studies of RRT results in selected relapsed HD patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term disease-free survival is frequently possible with either A-BMT or RRT in appropriately selected relapsed HD patients. In considering treatment options, important prognostic factors include initial stage of disease, number of prior relapses, DFI, and extent of relapsed disease.
Pezner
R D
RD
Division of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.
Nademanee
A
A
Forman
S J
SJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012008:Recurrence