title: PCR detection of residual Bcl-2/IgH-positive cells after high-dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation is a prognostic factor for event-free survival in patients with low-grade follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: This study was designed to evaluate the results of high-dose therapy followed by purged autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for patients with low-grade follicular non Hodgkin's lymphoma (LGFL), and the prognostic significance of PCR detection of residual Bcl-2/IgH-positive cells after ASCT. Between 1992 and 1998, 49 patients with LGFL received total body irradiation and high-dose cyclophosphamide followed by purged ASCT. PCR amplification of the Bcl-2/IgH rearrangement was performed at diagnosis, on stem cell collections before and after purging and on bone marrow and blood samples after ASCT. With a median follow-up of 76 months (37-103) 34 patients remain alive and event-free. A total of 20 patients had disease recurrence, three patients developed secondary myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). In all, 11 patients died; 10 deaths were because of recurrent disease, one because of MDS. Kaplan-Meier estimates of event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) at 5 years were 65% (+/-7%) and 77% (+/-6%), respectively. Patients who achieved a sustained molecular complete response (CR) had a lower risk of disease recurrence and experienced significantly longer EFS (93% (+/-6%) vs 11% (+/-7%) P=0.0008) and OS (100 vs 55% (+/-12%) P=0.0057). In conclusion, myeloablative therapy followed by purged ASCT may induce long EFS in patients with LGFL. The achievement of sustained molecular CR after ASCT improves EFS and OS.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Nantes, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mahé
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Milpied
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mellerin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morineau
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vigier
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Harousseau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2