Long-term results of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) supported by hematopoietic circulating (ASCT) or bone marrow (BMT) stem cell autografting as first salvage treatment for refractory or relapsed Hodgkin’s lymphoma
7567 Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate with a long follow-up the efficacy of HDCT + ASCT or ABMT for refractory or relapsed HL. Methods: Data were collected from 99 pts who failed or relapsed after first-line CT± radiotherapy and were treated with HDCT+ASCT or ABMT between Oct 1984 and Dec 2003. Thirty-two pts had late relapse (CR≥12 months), 31 had early relapse (CR<12 months), while 36 had primary refractory (IF) HL.The main pts characteristics at relapse/progression were as follows: M/F: 50/49; median age 28 years; stage III-IV:54%; B symptoms: 33%; bulky disease 22%; extranodal ± nodal disease 54%; IPI≥3 39%. HDCT program consisted in a debulking phase with sequential high-dose chemotherapy (Cyclophosphamide 7gr/mq followed by ASC or BM harvest, Methotrexate 8 gr/mq+ Vincristine 1.4 mg/mq, VP16 2 gr/mq) in 71 cases; 3–4 courses of Ifosfamide (3gr/mq × 4 days)+ Vinorelbine (25mg/mq day 1+5) in 28 cases. Final myeloablative course was BEAM (63%), or high-dose Melphalan combined with high-dose Mitoxantrone (11%) or with high-dose Carmustine (9%) or TBI (17%) followed by ABMT or ASCT. Results: Ninety-two pts (93%) completed the HDCT program, while seven pts (7%) progressed during debulking CT. Early and late toxicity were mild. After a median follow-up of 66 months both 10-year freedom from second progression (FF2P) and overall survival (OS) were 61% for all pts. FF2P and OS were respectively 70% and 66% for pts with late relapse; 64% and 60% for pts with early relapse; 52% and 56% for primary refractory pts. Multivariate analysis showed that prognostic factors for FF2P were stage III-IV vs I-II (HR 2.09; p=0.04), response to first-line CT: CR≥12 vs CR<12 vs IF (HR 2.19; p=0.058) and bulky vs non bulky (HR 1.96; p=0.07). Prognostic factors for OS were response to first-line CT (HR 2.59; p=0.05), stage III-IV vs I-II (HR 1.37; p=0.39) and bulky vs non bulky (HR 2.06; p=0.06).Conclusion: These long-term results confirm that HDCT + ASCT or ABMT was feasible, safe and very effective for the treatment of relapsed/refractory HL.Our data support the use of this strategy for the salvage therapy even in the unfavourable group of primary refractory pts. No significant financial relationships to disclose.