title: BEAC or BEAM for high-dose therapy in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma? A single centre analysis on toxicity and efficacy.
abstract: High-dose chemotherapy supported by autologous stem cell transplantation is widely used in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Limited data is available on the comparative toxicity and efficacy of various high-dose regimens applied in NHL. We therefore analysed regimen-related toxicity and outcome in 71 consecutive NHL patients who received either BEAC (N = 36) or BEAM (N = 35) supported by peripheral blood progenitor cell infusion plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. The patients who received BEAM had significantly more often WHO grade > 2 mucositis (63 vs. 28%, P = 0.009) and diarrhoea grade >2 (29 vs. 8%, P = 0.062). Septicaemia also tended to be more frequent and the peak CRP value was higher in the BEAM group (140 vs. 113 mg/l, P = 0.034). Transplant-related mortality (< 100 d) was 3 and 9% in the BEAC and BEAM groups, respectively. No significant differences were observed in overall survival or progression free survival between these two groups. While BEAC and BEAM appears to have equal antitumour efficacy in patients with NHL, BEAM seems to be more toxic to the gastrointestinal tract. However, randomised studies are needed for more definitive conclusions on the relative merits of various high-dose regimens in patients with NHL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, PO Box 1777, 70211 Kuopio, Finland. esa.jantunen@kuh.fi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jantunen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuittinen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nousiainen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D011034:Podophyllotoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D005047:Etoposide; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011034:Podophyllotoxin; D008558:Melphalan; D002330:Carmustine