Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Methods: 182 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were enrolled in a clinical study carried out in 34 hospitals of China. Before APBSCT 112 patients were in first completely remission (CR(1)) and 70 patients in partial remission (PR) or relapse. Autologous peripheral blood stem cell (APBSC) mobilized by high-dose cyclophosphamide (HD-CY)(n = 55), high-dose Ara-C (HD-Ara-C)(n = 7), increased dose CY based regimens with G-CSF (n = 102) and G-CSF only (n = 18). 112 patients in CR(1) received high-dose chemotherapy with (n = 39) or without total body irradiation (TBI) (n = 73). 70 patients in PR or relapse received high-dose chemotherapy with (n = 29) or without TBI (n = 41).
Results: Median time for hemotopoeitic recovery of WBC >/= 1.0 x 10(9)/L, and platelets >/= 2.0 x 10(9)/L was 12 (10 approximately 30) days and 12(0 approximately 181) days respectively. After a median follow-up of 24 months, the probability of 3-year disease free survival (DFS) in CR(1) and in PR or relapse was 69. 7% and 44.9% respectively. The probability of 3-year overall survival (OS) and DFS for patients in CR(1) group was 76.2% and 70.1% following high-dose chemotherapy with TBI and 78.4% and 68.0% following high-dose chemotherapy without TBI. However, the probability of 3-year OS and DFS for patients in PR or relapse group was 76.5% and 57.5% following high-dose chemotherapy with TBI and 58.4% and 40.1% following high-dose chemotherapy without TBI. After transplantation, 18 patients were died of original disease (16.1%) in CR(1) group and 19 patients (27.1%) in PR or relapse group. Transplant-related mortality was 2.6%.
Conclusion: A PBSCT is a safe and efficacious therapeutic measure in patients with NHL.