High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic rescue for Hodgkin's disease patients following first relapse after chemotherapy.
BACKGROUND
The best results of conventional-dose salvage chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease have been reported after first relapse. We evaluated the results of high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic rescue for Hodgkin's disease patients who had relapsed from an initial chemotherapy-induced complete remission.


METHODS
Eighty-five patients received high-dose cyclophosphamide, carmustine, and etoposide (CBV) followed by autologous bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.


RESULTS
Actuarial survival at five years was 51%, and failure-free survival was 40%. Failure-free survival at five years was 90% for patients who received no conventional-dose salvage chemotherapy prior to CBV. Failure-free survival of patients treated initially with a four-drug regimen was not significantly different than patients treated with seven/eight-drug regimens.


CONCLUSIONS
These results appear to be better than those reported for conventional-dose salvage chemotherapy. High-dose therapy followed by autologous bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation should be considered for any patient with relapsed Hodgkin's disease, regardless of the length of initial remission, or type of initial chemotherapy. Certain patients, especially those with minimal disease, may benefit by proceeding directly to transplantation after relapse, without first receiving conventional-dose salvage chemotherapy.
Bierman
P J
PJ
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA.
Anderson
J R
JR
Freeman
M B
MB
Vose
J M
JM
Kessinger
A
A
Bishop
M R
MR
Armitage
J O
JO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D005047:Etoposide; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002330:Carmustine