AUTOLOGOUS BLOOD OR BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION FOR RELAPSED AND PARTIALLY RESPONDING LOW-GRADE NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA

Problem Efficacy of high-dose chemotherapy followed by unpurged autolo gous haemopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) in relapsed or partially responding low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Method A single-ce ntre study of 20 consecutive patients, aged 22-59 years; 16/20 patient s fulfilled criteria for a large tumour burden. Source of cells were m obilized haemopoietic progenitors in 16, and bone marrow in 4 patients . Results Response rate to BEAM conditioning was high: 94% CR + PR, wi th early mortality of 5%. However, after a median follow-up of 30 mont hs, 61% of patients relapsed or progressed, the median relapse-free in terval being 16 months. Prolonged relapse-free survival was seen in pa tients in good partial remission prior to AHCT, and in those in Ist re lapse after a long (>30 mo) remission post diagnosis. Conclusions Desp ite a high response rate, only a proportion of relapsed LG-NHL patient s experience long-lasting disease/progression-free intervals after AHC T.