Autologous stem cell transplantation with selected CD34+ cells and unmanipulated peripheral blood stem cells in patients with relapsed and refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma: a single centre experience
Abstract:
With the aim to evaluate the long term outcome after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDCT+ASCT) in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) we performed a retrospective analysis of patients transplanted at our centre. Between January 1993 and December 2005, 126 consecutive patients with relapsed or refractory HL in the age of 16 to 65 years underwent HDCT+ASCT at our centre and were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. Patients were autografted with either CD34+ positively selected or unmanipulated periferal blood stem cells (PBSC). With a median follow up of 69 months (3-162 months), the actuarial 5-y PFS and OS for all patients after HDCT+ASCT were 59% and 72%, respectively. In patients transplanted from 1996 the actuarial 5-y PFS and OS for CD34+ selected group were 64% and 79% and for unmanipulated PBSC group 63% and 66%, respectively. A total of 42/126 (33%) patients died. Treatment related mortality (TRM) was 3% (4 patients). In univariate analysis, chemosensitive disease and increased LDH were the strongest prognostic factors for PFS and OS. Our results confirm the efficacy of HDCT+ASCT in relapsed or refractory HL with acceptable toxicity. The use of CD34+ positively selected stem cells for autografting is feasible, safe and effective procedure.