Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a lymphoid neoplasm that is projected to af flict over 56,800 people in the United States in 1999. Although NHL is asso ciated with long-term survival following standard therapy, many patients ev entually succumb, with 25,700 patients expected to die of NHL in 1999. High -dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) has been used in various settings in NHL with the goal of prolonging disea se-free survival. This article reviews the use of AHCT in NHL, including th e pertinent clinical data, the source of stem cells, and the preparative re gimens with their associated toxicities. It is hoped that the continued nee d for formal clinical trials to efficiently and correctly determine the rol e for AHCT in NHL is impressed on the reader.