title: Allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for high-risk non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: A high incidence of nonrelapse mortality (NRM) has limited the use of allogeneic transplantation for poor prognosis non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). We sought to improve the outcome of allografting by utilizing Filgrastim-mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) in combination with either standard ablative or reduced-intensity conditioning. A total of 21 patients with intermediate/high-grade lymphoma and seven patients with low-grade histology were enrolled on protocols using PBSC. All patients were considered high risk for recurrence and/or NRM because of age >50 (n=16), refractory disease (n=17), failed autologous transplant (n=11) and abnormal organ function (n=2). In all, 17 patients received ablative regimens and 11 received modified conditioning including fludarabine, intravenous busulfan and ATG. Tacrolimus and mini-dose methotrexate were used for graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Median follow-up was 38 months. Disease-free and overall survival were 57 and 58%. Seven of the 11 patients who relapsed after a previous transplant remain disease free. Four of the 10 patients with recurrent/persistent disease post transplant responded to additional therapy including withdrawal of immunosuppression+/-DLI. These results support a potent graft-versus-lymphoma effect and suggest that patients who relapse after an autologous transplant can be salvaged with an allogeneic transplant.
authors.affiliation: Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. Stuart.Seropian@Yale.edu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seropian
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bahceci
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus; D008727:Methotrexate