Should HIV-positive patients with lymphoma be offered stem cell transplants?
Advances in effective antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection have made high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation possible in patients with HIV-associated lymphomas. Regimen-related toxicity is not significantly increased when antiretroviral therapy is combined with high-dose chemoradiotherapy. Durable engraftment can be seen with autologous stem cell rescue. Infectious complications can be managed with a combination of surveillance and prophylaxis. Long-term remissions of these high-risk lymphomas can be achieved with this approach. This suggests that patients with HIV-associated lymphomas should be considered for autologous transplantation in a manner similar to HIV-negative lymphoma patients.
Krishnan
A
A
Hematologic Neoplasia Program, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA. Akrishnan@coh.org
Zaia
J
J
Forman
S J
SJ
D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*