Aim: Limited data are available to guide the choice of conditioning regimen before autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) for patients with lymphoma.
Methods: We analyzed 129 non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients who underwent AHSCT from 1996 to 2013 using the most common regimens: CBV (cyclophosphamide, carmustine and etoposide; n = 16), BEAM (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan; n = 36) and BEAC (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine and cyclophosphamide; n = 77).
Results: At a median follow-up of 42.5 months, the estimated 5-year overall survival for the CBV, BEAM and BEAC groups was 68.8%, 77.8% and 81.8%, respectively (P = 0.584). The estimated 5-year progression-free survival in the CBV group (43.8%) was relatively inferior to the BEAM (66.7%) and BEAC (67.5%) groups, but the differences were not significant (P = 0.403). Grade 2 or higher mucositis, diarrhea and fever were relatively more common in the BEAM group (P < 0.05). No differences were observed in the time to hematopoietic recovery and the duration of hospitalization. The amount of transfused platelet was significantly less in the CBV.
Conclusion: CBV, BEAM and BEAC regimens are all optional high-dose chemotherapy before AHSCT for NHL patients.
Keywords: BEAC; BEAM; CBV; autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.