Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for adults with B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A pilot study

We conducted a pilot study on autologous peripheral blood stem cell transpl antation (PBSCT) for 11 adults with B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in first complete remission (CR) or even in those with more advanced stages. All patients achieved CR by induction therapy, of whom 10 were trea ted with anthracycline, vincristine and prednisolone-based regimens. After consolidation therapy, all patients except one received high-dose cytarabin e followed by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) administration to collect PBSCs. Ten patients received busulfan 4 mg/kg for 4 days, etopos ide 20 mg/kg for 3 days and ranimustine 200 mg/m(2) for 2 days as a conditi oning regimen. One received a regimen consisting of etoposide. cyclophospha mide and total body irradiation. From day 1, G-CSF was given intravenously, and no additional chemotherapy was administered. At the median follow-up t ime of 30.8 months, four of six patients with standard-risk B-lineage ALL s urvived within the range of 19.7 to 85.4 months without relapse. In contras t, only one of five with high-risk B-lineage ALL survived for 36.3 months w ithout relapse. Autologous PBSCT as post-remission therapy may prolong CR i n adults with standard-risk B-lineage ALL.