title: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation in treatment of aggressive lymphomas: case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the outcome of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in patients with aggressive lymphoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1991 and 2002, 22 patients with aggressive lymphoma in advanced phase of the disease underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation at the Division of Hematology, Zagreb University Hospital Center. Seventeen patients received stem cells from the bone marrow. Eighteen patients underwent total body irradiation and received cyclophosphamide for conditioning, whereas the rest of the patients received busulfan and cyclophosphamide (n=2) or chemotherapeutic protocol combining carmustine, melphalan, etoposide, and cytarabine (BEAM regimen) (n=2). All patients received cyclosporin and short methotrexate for the prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three months after allotransplantation, 17 patients had complete remission, 3 patients had active disease, and the outcome in 2 patients was early death. Nine patients were alive and in complete remission for 4 to 124 months, whereas 13 patients died (8 because of disease progression and 3 because of GVHD and infection). The probability of overall survival at 4 years was 47%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allogeneic transplantation is an effective therapy for advanced aggressive lymphoma. Because of high treatment-related toxicity and mortality, prospective trials are needed to asses the best time when to apply this treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Kispaticeva 12, Croatia. boris.labar@inet.hr
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Labar
authors.forename: Vinko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bogdanić
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nemet
authors.forename: Mirando
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mrsić
authors.forename: Ranka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Serventi-Seiwerth
authors.forename: Dubravka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sertić
authors.forename: Branka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Golubić-Cepulić
authors.forename: Mladen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vrtar
authors.forename: Fedor
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santek
authors.forename: Drago
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Batinić
authors.forename: Mirta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mikulić
authors.forename: Drazen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pulanić
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous