High-Dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for Hodgkin's Lymphoma in relapse or failure after initial chemotherapy: results of the centre National de Greffe de Moelle osseuse de Tunis

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