title: Z-BeEAM (Ibritumomab tiuxetan, Bendamustine, Etoposide, Cytarabine, Melphalan) before autologous stem cell transplantation is safe and efficient for refractory large B-cell lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Refractory or relapsed large B-cells lymphoma are usually treated with a high dose chemotherapy regimen followed by an autolougous stem cells transplantation. BEAM (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan) or more recently Z-BEAM (ibritumomab tiuxetan and BEAM) are commonly used regimens, but recently carmustine availability became difficult. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and the safety of replacing carmustine by bendamustine in a new Z-BeEAM regimen (ibritumomab tiuxetan, bendamustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan) prior to autologous stem cell transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study was a retrospective analyze of six patients, with a median age of 60, treated by Z-BeEAM before autologous stem cell transplantation. We did not put in evidence any additional toxicities compared to conventional induction chemotherapy. The main toxicities were mucositis (3 grade III among 6 patients), gastrointestinal (2 grade III vomiting and 2 grade III diarrhea) and neutropenia (6 grade IV). Engraftment was successfully achieved for all patients. At the time of analysis of this study all patients were alive and in complete response based on the PET-CT evaluation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BeEAM plus ibritumomab tiuxetan combined regimen before autologous stem cell transplantation is feasible and safe in aggressive relapsing large B-cell lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Antoine-Lacassagne Center, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Magalie P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Tardy
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Antoine-Lacassagne Center, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Lauris
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gastaud
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Mulhouse Hospital, Mulhouse, France.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ojeda-Uribe
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Antoine-Lacassagne Center, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boscagli
authors.affiliation: La Dracenie Hospital Center, Draguignan, France.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Saint-Georges Clinic, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Skaf
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Frejus-Saint Raphael Hospital, Frejus, France.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gutnecht
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Antoine-Lacassagne Center, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thyss
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Antoine-Lacassagne Center, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peyrade
keywords: Aggressive Non-Hodgkin lymphoma; Autologous stem cell transplantation; Conditionning regimen; Large B cell lymphoma; Z-BeEAM