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BEAC (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and cyclophosphamide) in autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation: a safe and effective alternative conditioning regimen for Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 54, pages 921–923 (2019)Cite this article

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We read with great interest the recently published report of the EBMT-Lymphoma Working Party focusing on BEAC conditioning for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) [1]. Optimal conditioning regimen for autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) remains a challenge in lymphomas. BEAM (Carmustine, Etoposide, Cytarabine, and Melphalan) is considered the gold standard conditioning regimen in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and NHL patients. However, given the limited availability of Melphalan and Carmustine over the last decade, alternative conditioning regimens have been introduced, including intravenous Busulfan (BuEM) instead of Carmustine and Cyclophosphamide (BEAC) instead of Melphalan.

BuEM has shown high tolerability and efficacy compared to the gold standard BEAM regimen. Interestingly, survival rates with BuEM in Hodgkin lymphoma patients were marginally better than those with BEAM, with acceptable toxicity [2]. BEAM has been also compared with BEAC in two recent reports of NHL patients [1, 3]. However, there is a lack of data for BEAC regimen in HL. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the safety, toxicity and efficacy profile of BEAC in both HL and NHL patients undergoing AHCT, and compare it with BuEM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hematology Department – BMT Unit, George Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Ioanna Sakellari, Eleni Gavriilaki, Stella Bouziana, Varnavas Constantinou, Despina Mallouri, Anna Vardi, Anastasia Marvaki, Ioannis Batsis, Damianos Sotiropoulos & Achilles Anagnostopoulos

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  1. Ioanna Sakellari
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  2. Eleni Gavriilaki
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  3. Stella Bouziana
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  10. Achilles Anagnostopoulos
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Correspondence to Eleni Gavriilaki.

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Sakellari, I., Gavriilaki, E., Bouziana, S. et al. BEAC (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and cyclophosphamide) in autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation: a safe and effective alternative conditioning regimen for Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Bone Marrow Transplant 54, 921–923 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-018-0395-y

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