INTENSIVE CYTO-TOXIC THERAPY FOLLOWED BY AUTOLOGOUS BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION FOR NON-HODGKINS LYMPHOMA OF HIGH-GRADE MALIGNANCY

Abstract

Fourteen patients with non-Hodgkin''s lymphoma (NHL) of high-grade malignancy were treated with cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). All patients were pretreated with conventional chemotherapy. Three of 4 patients with drug-resistant disease achieved complete remission (CR), but relapse occurred within 6 mo. Four patients in partial remission (PR) achieved CR; 1 died because of sepsis, 2 relapsed within 6 mo., and 1 is still in CR 28 mo. later. Six were treated in CR, 5 in 1st CR, and 1 in 2nd CR. From these 6 patients (who received this treatment as consolidation therapy), 5 are in unmaintained CR 7-31 + mo., after ABMT (1 patient died of a secondary illness). There were 2 therapy-related deaths, both in patients with a poor clinical condition. Toxicity of this treatment was mild for those receiving transplants who were in better condition. Intensive cytoreductive therapy followed by ABMT may improve disease-free survival in patients in NHL of high-grade malignancy in CR.