High-dose therapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation for adult patients with lymphoblastic lymphoma: results of the European Group for Bone Marrow Transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the results of treatment and factors that affect prognosis in adult patients undergoing high-dose therapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) for lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL).


METHODS
The study was a retrospective analysis of 214 patients reported to the Lymphoma Registry of the European Group for Bone Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) between January 1981 and December 1992, including 105 patients undergoing marrow transplantation in first complete remission (CR). Data on all patients were reviewed, and analysis of prognostic factors conducted.


RESULTS
The actuarial overall survival rate at 6 years for the entire group is 42%. Disease status at ABMT was the major determinant of outcome: 6-year actuarial overall survival was 63% for patients transplanted in first CR, compared with 15% for those with resistant disease at the time of transplantation. Transplantation in second CR resulted in a 31% rate of actuarial overall survival at 6 years. For patients transplanted in first CR, univariate analysis failed to identify any factors at presentation that predicted for outcome after transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that ABMT is effective therapy for adults with LBL, even in patients with disease that is resistant to conventional-dose therapy. Results for patients transplanted in second CR are superior to those reported for conventional-dose salvage regimens. The results in first CR require verification in a prospective randomized clinical study.
Cancer Research Campaign, Wessex Medical Oncology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom.
J W
JW
Sweetenham
G
G
Liberti
R
R
Pearce
G
G
Taghipour
G
G
Santini
A H
AH
Goldstone
D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome