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Lymphoma

Autologous stem cell transplantation for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: efficacy in the rituximab era and comparison to first allogeneic transplants. A report from the EBMT Lymphoma Working Party

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 51, pages 365–371 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

In the era of chemoimmunotherapy, the optimal treatment paradigm for relapsed and refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma has been challenged. We reviewed the outcome of standard salvage therapy with an autologous stem cell transplant (autoSCT) over the last two decades and the outcome of allogeneic SCT (alloSCT) in the most recent decade. AutoSCT recipients diagnosed between 1992 and 2002 (n=2737) were compared with those diagnosed between 2002 and 2010 (n=3980). Patients diagnosed after 2002 had a significantly lower non-relapse mortality (NRM) and relapse incidence (RI) and a superior PFS and overall survival (OS). A total of 4210 patients diagnosed between 2002 and 2010 underwent either an autoSCT or an alloSCT as their first transplant procedure. Two-hundred and thirty patients received an alloSCT (myeloablative (MACalloSCT) n=132, reduced intensity (RICalloSCT) n=98). The 4-year NRM rates were 7%, 20% and 27% for autoSCT, RICalloSCT and MACalloSCT, respectively. The 4-year RI was 45%, 40% and 38% for autoSCT, RICalloSCT and MACalloSCT, respectively (NS). The 4-year PFS were 48%, 52% and 35% for autoSCT, RICalloSCT and MACalloSCT, respectively. The 4-year OS was 60%, 52% and 38% for autoSCT, RIC alloSCT and MACalloSCT, respectively. After adjustment for confounding factors NRM was significantly worse for patients undergoing alloSCT whilst there was no difference in the RI.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Haematology, University Hospital Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK

    S P Robinson

  2. Lymphoma Working Party, EBMT, Paris, France

    A Boumendil & H Finel

  3. Program de Transplantation and Therapie Cellulaire, Institut Paoli Calmettes, Marseille, France

    D Blaise

  4. Department of Haematology, Cliniques Universitaires St. Luc, Brussels, Belgium

    X Poiré

  5. Department of Haematology, Centre Leon Berard, Lyon, France

    E Nicolas-Virelizier

  6. Department of BMT, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel

    R Or

  7. Department of Haematology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK

    R Malladi

  8. Services des Maladies du Sang, CHU, Angers, France

    A Corby

  9. Department of Haematology, Nouvel Hopital Civil, Strasbourg, France

    L Fornecker

  10. Servicio de Haematogica, Hospital Clínico, Salamanca, Spain

    D Caballero

  11. Department of Medicine, Charles University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic

    D Pohlreich

  12. Department of Haematology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel

    A Nagler

  13. APHP Hemato-Oncology Department, Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, France

    C Thieblemont

  14. Department of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany

    J Finke

  15. Department of Haematology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pierre-Benite, France

    E Bachy

  16. Department d'Hematologie Clinique, CHU Lapeyronie, Montpellier, France

    L Vincent

  17. Department of Haematology, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Antwerp Edegem, Belgium

    W Schroyens

  18. Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    H Schouten

  19. Medizinische Klinik, University Of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    P Dreger

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  1. S P Robinson
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Correspondence to S P Robinson.

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Robinson, S., Boumendil, A., Finel, H. et al. Autologous stem cell transplantation for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: efficacy in the rituximab era and comparison to first allogeneic transplants. A report from the EBMT Lymphoma Working Party. Bone Marrow Transplant 51, 365–371 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2015.286

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