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Intensive chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation in primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs). Therapeutic outcomes in real life—experience of the French Network

Abstract

We analysed the therapeutic outcomes of all consecutive patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) registered in the prospective French database for PCNSL and treated with intensive chemotherapy (IC) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (IC-ASCT) between 2011 and November 2019 (271 patients recruited, 266 analysed). In addition, treatment-related complications of thiotepa-based IC-ASCT were analysed from the source files of 85 patients from 3 centers. Patients had received IC-ASCT either in first-line treatment (n = 147) or at relapse (n = 119). The median age at IC-ASCT was 57 years (range: 22–74). IC consisted of thiotepa-BCNU (n = 64), thiotepa-busulfan (n = 24), BCNU-etoposide-cytarabine-melphalan (BEAM, n = 36) and thiotepa-busulfan-cyclophosphamide (n = 142). In multivariate analysis, BEAM and ASCT beyond the first relapse were adverse prognostic factors for relapse risk. The risk of treatment-related mortality was higher for ASCT performed beyond the first relapse and seemed higher for thiotepa-busulfan-cyclophosphamide. Thiotepa-BCNU tends to result in a higher relapse rate than thiotepa-busulfan-cyclophosphamide and thiotepa-busulfan. This study confirms the role of IC-ASCT in first-line treatment and at first-relapse PCNSL (5-year overall survival rates of 80 and 50%, respectively). The benefit/risk ratio of thiotepa-busulfan/thiotepa-busulfan-cyclophosphamide-ASCT could be improved by considering ASCT earlier in the course of the disease and dose adjustment of the IC.

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Fig. 1: Outcomes according to line of treatment at IC-ASCT and to the type of IC.
Fig. 2: Relapse rate according to IC type.
Fig. 3: Main complications during hospitalization for ASCT (n = 85).

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All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article (and its supplementary information files).

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Acknowledgements

We thank the clinicians involved in the French National “Lymphome Oculo-Cérébral” LOC network, part of the network for rare cancers of the central nervous system, “RENOCLIP-LOC Network”, approved by the French National Institute of Cancer (INCa).

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LS: conceived and designed the work that led to the submission, acquired data, and played an important role in interpreting the results, drafted and revised the manuscript, approved the final version and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. CS: conceived and designed the work that led to the submission, acquired data, and played an important role in interpreting the results, drafted and revised the manuscript, approved the final version and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. CH: Retrieved data from the database, approved the final version and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. MLT: performed the statistical analyses, revised the manuscript and approved the final version. LT: acquired data, approved the final version and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. SC: acquired data, approved the final version and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. 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CB: acquired data and approved the final version and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. SWM: acquired data and approved the final version and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. QG: acquired data and approved the final version and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. VD: acquired data and approved the final version and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. CC: acquired data and approved the final version and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. WJ: acquired data and approved the final version and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. KHX: acquired data and approved the final version and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

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Correspondence to Carole Soussain.

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Schenone, L., Houillier, C., Tanguy, M.L. et al. Intensive chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation in primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs). Therapeutic outcomes in real life—experience of the French Network. Bone Marrow Transplant 57, 966–974 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-022-01648-z

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