ABSTRACT
In the present study we report the clinical outcome of 27 patients with refractory or relapsed Hodgkin's lymphoma [HL] undergoing autologous peripheral stem-cell transplantation [ASCT]. On transplant, 18 patients had sensitive disease [SD] and 9 resistant disease [RD]. The median time between diagnosis and ASCT was 18 months [range, 7 to 96 months]. The conditioning consisted of BEAM regimen. The 100-day mortality rate was 3%. Three months after transplant, 12 patients transplanted with SD were in complete remission [CR] and only one of the 9 patients transplanted with RD achieved CR. Overall survival and disease-free survival after 3 years were 68% and 60%, respectively. The present results confirm the efficacy and safety of the ASCT in refractory or relapsed HL patients with SD. Other strategies should be investigated for patients with RD