title: Phase II study of autologous stem cell transplant using busulfan-melphalan chemotherapy-only conditioning followed by interferon for relapsed poor prognosis follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
abstract: Alpha interferon has proven efficacy in prolonging remissions in patients with follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) when given concurrently with or after conventional-dose anthracycline-based chemotherapy, but there are limited data on its use after myeloablative conditioning. We prospectively evaluated the toxicity and efficacy of interferon given thrice weekly for up to 5 years post-engraftment in patients with relapsed follicular NHL undergoing autologous stem cell transplant using busulfan-melphalan conditioning. Thirty-seven patients were enrolled in this Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group study and transplanted between 1995 and 1999. Only one patient had received prior rituximab. Two patients died of transplant-related toxicity; 28 of the remainder commenced interferon, but it was discontinued prematurely in most patients due to toxicity (mainly fatigue and depression) or relapse. While the majority of patients (29/36 evaluable: 81%) achieved a complete remission based on clinical and CT scan criteria post-transplant, most relapsed relatively early, with a median progression-free survival of 2.4 years. The overall survival at 7 years was 49%. Eight patients (22%), however, remain alive a median of 9.3 years post-transplant, having never relapsed, and another six patients (16%) remain alive in durable remission after salvage therapy. These results demonstrate that interferon is poorly tolerated post-autograft and hence is unlikely to positively contribute to patient outcome. Long-term follow-up demonstrates that autografting may result in durable remissions in a meaningful minority of patients with relapsed follicular NHL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Royal Melbourne Hospital and University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. Andrew.grigg@mh.org.au
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Grigg
authors.forename: Janey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Alvin D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Milner
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Schwarer
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: H Miles
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: Devinder
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bashford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002066:Busulfan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007372:Interferons; D002066:Busulfan; D008558:Melphalan