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Lymphoma

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for low-grade lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract

Twenty-six patients with low-grade lymphoma (LGL) (n = 18) or chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (n = 8) received allogeneic BMTs between 1985 and 1998. Median age was 42 years, median interval from diagnosis to transplant 22 months and median number of prior treatments three. Twenty (77%) had stage IV disease; 22 (85%) had never achieved CR. Donor source was HLA matched sibling (n = 19, 73%), matched unrelated (n = 6, 23%) or syngeneic (n = 1). Conditioning therapy included total body irradiation in 23 patients and busulphan in three. Twenty-five received GVHD prophylaxis with cyclosporine A; + methotrexate (n = 19), + methylprednisolone (n = 2) or + T cell depletion of allograft ± methotrexate (n = 4). Sixteen patients are alive, a median of 2.4 years post BMT. Death occurred due to transplant complications (n = 7) or underlying disease (n = 3). Eighteen (12 LGL, six CLL) of 22 evaluable patients (82%) achieved CR post BMT. Cumulative incidence of refractory/recurrent disease was 18% (95% confidence interval (CI) 7–42%). Overall and event-free survivals were 58% (95% CI 35–75%) and 54% (95% CI 32–72%), respectively. Allogeneic BMT for young patients with advanced LGL or CLL is feasible and can result in long-term disease-free survival. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 605–612.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the contribution of the nursing and medical staff on East 6 Ward and Medical Day Care at the Vancouver General Hospital and the technical staff of the Terry Fox Laboratory as well as Daphne Brockington for data collection/ collation and Louise Myers for manuscript preparation.

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Toze, C., Shepherd, J., Connors, J. et al. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for low-grade lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Bone Marrow Transplant 25, 605–612 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1702191

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