RESUMO
To evaluate the results of high-dose chemotherapy (HDT) and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with diffuse B-cell aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL). Between 1991 and 2004, 25 patients who did not achieve complete remission and 26 in complete remission from conventional chemotherapy received HDC-ASCT. Of 25 patients with refractory NHL,14 were chemotherapy-sensitive before HDT-ASCT and 11 were chemotherapy-resistant. CR was achieved after HDC-ASCT in 50% of 14 chemotherapy sensitive patients and in none of 11 chemotherapy-resistant patients. The 5-year probability of event-free survival for chemotherapy-sensitive and chemotherapy-resistant patients was 51.3% and 20.8%, respectively (p<0.05, log-rank test). Moreover, the 5-year probability of event-free survival for patients in the low-risk group with International Prognostic Index (IPI) and in the high-risk group with IPI was 75.0% and 16.3%, respectively (p<0.05, log-rank test). HDT-ASCT should be considered for patients with refractory aggressive NHL who are chemotherapy-sensitive rather than chemotherapy-resistant. Twenty-six patients in complete remission received consolidation therapy with HDT-ASCT. The 5-year probability of disease-free survival for patients in the low-risk group and in the high-risk group was 68.8% and 60.0%,respectively (p = 0.9 6). HDT-ASCT should be considered for patients at high risk who achieve complete remission after induction treatment. In future, HDT-ASCT combined with rituximab as induction therapy or as consolidation therapy is needed for patients with aggressive NHL in the high-risk group.
