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High-dose Benda-EAM versus BEAM in patients with relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 54, pages 481–484 (2019)Cite this article

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In patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), high-dose chemotherapy (standard regimens include CBV, BEAC, and BEAM) with subsequent autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remains the standard of care [1]. High-dose carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan (BEAM) has been used for at least two decades, demonstrating a 5-year overall survival (OS) of ~55% [2]. However, there are concerns about the increasing cost, reduced availability, and high toxicity profile of carmustine, particularly second malignancies and interstitial pneumonitis [3]. These concerns highlight the need for an alternate agent or regimen.

Visani et al. reported a phase 1–2 study investigating outcomes using bendamustine in place of carmustine together with the other components of BEAM (Benda-EAM) in 43 patients [4]. Updated follow-up at 41 months showed that 72% of patients had no evidence of recurrent HL after high-dose Benda-EAM and ASCT [5]. In the present study, we conducted a matched analysis comparing the characteristics, clinical outcomes and toxicities between patients with R/R HL treated with high-dose Benda-EAM or BEAM conditioning regimens followed by ASCT.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Erica S. Tsang and Diego Villa

  2. These authors jointly supervised this work: Alina S. Gerrie, Alessandro Isidori

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Erica S. Tsang

  2. Centre for Lymphoid Cancer and Division of Medical Oncology, BC Cancer, Vancouver, Canada

    Diego Villa, Laurie H. Sehn, David W. Scott, Kerry J. Savage, Joseph M. Connors & Alina S. Gerrie

  3. Hematology and Stem Cell Transplant Center, AORMN, Pesaro, Italy

    Federica Loscocco, Giuseppe Visani, Barbara Guiducci, Cristina Clissa & Alessandro Isidori

  4. Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program of British Columbia and Division of Hematology, Vancouver General Hospital and BC Cancer, Vancouver, Canada

    Maryse Power, Kevin Song, Cynthia Toze, Yasser Abou Mourad, Heather Sutherland, David Sanford, Stephen H. Nantel & Alina S. Gerrie

Authors
  1. Erica S. Tsang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Diego Villa.

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Conflict of interest

DV, ASG, JMC, KJS, LHS, and DWS receive research funding from Roche to support the BC Cancer Centre for Lymphoid Cancer database. DV: Lundbeck honoraria and consultancy (advisory boards). YAM: Honoraria and consultancy from JAZZ, Celgene, and Amgen. DS: Pfizer and Novartis consultancy and honoraria. ASG: Honoraria and advisory boards from both Lundbeck and Seattle Genetics. AI: Lundbeck honoraria and consultancy, TEVA consultancy.

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Tsang, E.S., Villa, D., Loscocco, F. et al. High-dose Benda-EAM versus BEAM in patients with relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 54, 481–484 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-018-0328-9

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