New approaches to blood and marrow transplantation for patients with low-grade lymphomas

Low-grade lymphomas are generally considered incurable diseases with curren t standard therapies. Blood or marrow transplantation may be the exception. Nevertheless, the role of bone marrow transplantation in low-grade lymphom as has been limited by the usual indolent course of this heterogeneous grou p of diseases and the historically high rates of transplant-related mortali ty associated with most transplant procedures. This review discusses the cu rrent issues pertaining to bone marrow transplantation and comments on inve stigational approaches such as the use of monoclonal antibodies as in vivo purging mechanisms and nonmyeloablative and radioimmunoconjugated antibodie s as alternate preparative regimens. Curr Opin Oncol 2001, 13:335-341 (C) 2 001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.