Autografting for lymphoblastic lymphoma

Most large studies of the role of autografting for relapsed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma have included a small number of patients with Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL), but the numbers are insufficient to draw definitive conclusions. The European Group for Bone Marrow Transplantation registry data demonstrate that for a total of 287 adult patients with LBL who have undergone autografts, the only factor predictive of long term survival was disease status at the time of transplantation. In view of the high relapse rates reported using conventional dose induction regimens for adult LBL, several centres have reported on the use of autografting to consolidate first complete remission (CR). To attempt to define the role of first remission autografting, a prospective study is currently in progress in Europe, in which adult patients with LBL who achieve a partial remission or CR to standard induction therapy are randomised between conventional dose consolidation/maintenance therapy or high dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation.