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R Fanin

Publications and source records attributed to R Fanin.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

The therapy of primary adult systemic CD30-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma: results of 40 cases treated in a single center.

The outcome of a series of adult patients, affected by primary systemic CD30-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), treated with a sequential intensive therapeutic program, has been analyzed and all data available in the literature have been reviewed. Forty consecutive, unselected patients with ALCL were treated with the F-MACHOP regimen, followed by radiotherapy (RT) for residual mediastinal disease (15 cases) and by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) conditioned with BAVC (29 cases). Eighty-nine percent (32/36) of the patients younger than 60 years were eligible for completing the sequential treatment. Since then, 3 patients in CR refused ASCT, 1 was excluded for cardiac toxicity and 3 progressed and died of disease. Thus, 29 have been so far submitted to the transplant procedure. CR and PR rates were 40% and 45% respectively after CHT; 52.5% and 35% after RT; 80% and 5% after ASCT, with 78% of patients transplanted in PR convertin to a CR. Actuarial overall survival is 85% at 48.5 months (93% at 66 months for the 29 transplanted patients) and disease free survival is 100% at 54 and 64 months respectively, with no relapses observed among patients who reached a CR. Considering our data and those of the literature, it can be concluded that although the role of ASCT in the therapy of ALCL must not be considered as definitive, its efficacy in converting PR into CR and in preventing relapses, suggests that a randomized trial comparing CHT alone vs CHT+ASCT should be undertaken.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Management of human cytomegalovirus infection and disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection and disease remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality after bone marrow transplantation. HCMV disease, especially pneumonitis, may be treated with ganciclovir and immunoglobulin but even so the outcome is poor with mortality rates of 30-70%. It is therefore imperative to treat HCMV infection before it develops into disease. The aim of this article is to describe the main strategies used to prevent HCMV infection and to improve the survival after CMV disease in bone marrow transplant recipients. INFORMATION SOURCES: In the present review, we examined personal papers in this field and articles published in journals covered by the Science Citation Index and Medline. STATE OF THE ART: Major advances have been made in preventing HCMV infection and disease through two different approaches, both of which reduce HCMV induced morbidity and mortality: In pre-emptive therapy, patients are given ganciclovir when HCMV infection is first identified and this is continued 3-4 months after transplantation; in prophylactic therapy ganciclovir is given to all patients at risk of HCMV disease from engraftment up to 3-4 months post transplantation. Each strategy has advantages and disadvantages and there is no evidence for the superiority of one over the other since the overall survival is the same and the incidence of death from HCMV disease is similar. PERSPECTIVES: The use of more sensitive tests such as HCMV PCR or antigenemia may improve the outcome but probably will not eradicate all HCMV disease. Future possible strategies could include adoptive transfer of CD8+ HCMV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes clones derived from the donor marrow or boosting donor or patient immunity using subunit anti-HCMV vaccines such as gB or pp65.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1999

A prospective study of alpha-interferon and autologous bone marrow transplantation in chronic myeloid leukemia. The Italian Co-operative Study Group on Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Alpha-interferon (alphaIFN) can induce cytogenetic remissions in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Hemopoietic progenitors can be collected from the marrow in remission and utilized for autologous repopulation after high dose chemotherapy. This study was designed with the purpose of evaluating the feasibility of a combined treatment policy of alphaIFN followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation (autoBMT). DESIGN AND METHODS: A prospective study of alphaIFN and autoBMT was begun in 1989. Two hundred and seventy-two consecutive previously untreated non-blastic Ph positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients, who were less than 56 years old, were enrolled over a 3-year period (1989-1991) and were assigned to receive human recombinant alphaIFN 2a (Roferon-A) at a dose of 9 MIU daily for at least one year. If they achieved a cytogenetic response consisting in a percentage of Ph neg metaphases of more than 25%, they were eligible for marrow harvesting and subsequent autografting after high dose busulfan (16 mg/kg) and melphalan (60 mg/m(2)). RESULTS: Seventy-six patients (28%) were eligible for a marrow harvest but the marrow was harvested in only 37 cases (14%), and only twenty-three patients (8%) were actually autografted. One patient died of infection nine days after autoBMT. The other patients recovered and did not suffer any late adverse events. Five patients progressed to blastic phase, six are alive in complete hematologic remission and eleven are alive in complete hematologic and cytogenetic remission. AlphaIFN treatment was reinstituted after autoBMT in 18 of 22 cases, but four patients who are in continuous complete cytogenetic remission were not given alphaIFN anymore. The progression-free survival of the autografted patients is 65% 8 years after registration. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that bone marrow hemopoietic progenitors (Ph neg and Ph pos) can be collected from patients who respond to alphaIFN and can be used to rescue hemopoietic activity after high dose chemotherapy. Though some complete and durable cytogenetic remissions were obtained, the treatment could be applied only to a small group of good risk patients, highlighting that selection is very important and results cannot be extrapolated to the average patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Impact of hepatitis C virus infection on clinical features, quality of life and survival of patients with lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma/immunocytoma.

BACKGROUND: The non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) subgroup most frequently associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma/immunocytoma (Lp-Ic). We have assessed the impact of the infection on the clinical features, quality of life and survival of HCV+ve Lp-Ic patients as compared to its impact in HCV-ve patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy patients with Lp-Ic consecutively observed over a six-year period were studied. Clinical, virological and histopathological features were recorded at diagnosis. Quality of life was assessed using a scoring system including disease-related symptoms, performance status, working ability, hospital admissions and therapies required. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (26%) with HCV infection were identified. Significant differences between those patients and the HCV-ve group included number of symptomatic patients, Hb levels, serum protein levels, entity of the IgM monoclonal component, number of patients with cryoglobulins and with organ (liver, kidney) involvement, and entity and pattern of bone marrow infiltration. Survival rates were similar (P = 0.8383), but the quality-of-life score was significantly worse for the HCV+ve patients (P = 0.002). All anti-HCV Ab+ve patients tested positive for HCV RNA; genotype 2ac was detected in a significant proportion of cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that HCV infection is present in about one-third of patients with Lp-Ic. HCV infection does not seem to affect the overall survival of patients with Lp-Ic, but it affects the clinical expression of the disease, so that the overall quality of life of HCV+ve patients is significantly worse.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Autologous stem cell transplantation for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in first complete or partial remission: a retrospective analysis of the outcome of 52 patients according to the age-adjusted International Prognostic Index.

The aim of the study was to retrospectively evaluate the outcome of patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in first complete (CR) or partial (PR) remission, according to the age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (IPI). Fifty-two consecutive patients, aged less than 60 years, with intermediate- or high-grade NHL, and at least one of the following adverse risk factors: bulky disease, B symptoms or Ann Arbor stage III-IV, and at least a PR after CHT (and radiotherapy (RT) on residual mediastinal mass when required), underwent ASCT conditioned with BAVC. Sixty-five percent (33/52) of the patients achieved CR after CHT; 69% (36/52) after CHT + RT; 90% (47/52) after CHT +/- RT + ASCT. One death during conditioning and three major toxic events after ASCT were recorded. Overall survival (OS) is 98% at 37 months (16-88); disease-free survival (DFS) is 100% at 27 months (7-82). Comparing the observed results with those expected if patients were treated only with CHT, the sequential treatment including ASCT conferred an advantage in terms of CR rate of 14, 23 and 54%, respectively, in the low-intermediate (LI), high-intermediate (HI) and high (H)-risk groups, respectively. The 2-year OS advantage is 10, 21, 31 and 63%, respectively, and the 2-year DFS advantage is 12, 26, 38 and 39%, respectively. Even more striking is the 5-year projected advantage in the number of patients alive without disease, even when considering only the low (L) (P < 0.0001) and the LI (P < 0.0001) risk groups. For patients in the higher (HI + H) risk groups, ASCT should be included in the initial plan of treatment as consolidation of first CR or PR, but the differences seen in this study suggest a formal comparison in a randomized study also for patients in the LI risk group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Adjuvant treatment with cyclosporin A increases the toxicity of chemotherapy for remission induction in acute non-lymphocytic leukemia.

P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-related multidrug resistance (MDR) is frequently observed in acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) and is associated with a poor response to standard chemotherapy. Cyclosporin A (CsA) is an effective downmodulator of Pgp-related MDR in vitro and has already been tested for that purpose in vivo also. Since Pgp is expressed in several normal cells and tissues, the modulation of Pgp can also modify total body exposure to antileukemic drugs and can alter and increase the toxicity of the antileukemic treatment. We report here the results of a study where 46 consecutive adult patients with ANLL were assigned to receive the same standard chemotherapy regimen of arabinosyl cytosine and idarubicin (IDA) for remission induction or consolidation, without or with CsA. Twenty-eight patients received 36 courses of chemotherapy without CsA and 18 patients received 32 courses of chemotherapy with CsA. CsA dose was 10-12.5 mg/kg/day and was given as a continuous i.v. infusion for 72 h. Whole blood CsA steady-state concentration ranged between 0.61 and 1.14 microM. The IDA area-under-the-curve was about twice as high in the cases that received CsA than in the other cases. CsA had no detectable effects on renal function and fluid balance, but significantly increased systemic blood diastolic pressure and conjugated bilirubine concentration. Furthermore, CsA-treated patients had greater, and more severe, oral and intestinal mucosal toxicity, with more severe adverse events, including more cases of gram-negative bacteremia, and with a delayed hemopoietic recovery. In conclusion, this study showed that an attempt at an effective downmodulation of Pgp-mediated MDR would substantially increase the hemopoietic and mucosal toxicity of antileukemic treatment and that the increase is accounted for, at least in part, by an increase of total body exposure to IDA.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Multiple myeloma: presenting features and survival according to hospital referral. Eastern Cooperative Study Group on Monoclonal Gammopathies.

Two-hundred and 31 patients with a newly diagnosed multiple myeloma first seen and admitted to 17 hospitals located in the North-East of Italy between 1987 and 1992, were registered for a prospective study on the course of the disease. Median age was 68 years (range 41-90). Fifty-one per cent were in stage I, 9% in stage II and 40% in stage III. The presenting features and the survival of the 61 (26%) patients who were first admitted to a division of Hematology of a University Hospital (group HEM) were compared with those of the 170 (74%) patients who were referred to 16 divisions of Internal Medicine at General and County Hospitals (group INT). In the latter group, the patients were older (p = 0.002), had a poorer performance status ( p = 0.0001 ), a higher frequency of renal failure (p = 0.006) and anemia (p = 0.02) and higher beta2 microglobulin levels (p = 0.01). Median survival of group HEM patients did not differ significantly from group INT patients, if all stages were considered, but stage II and III patients of group INT had a significantly shorter median survival than advanced stage patients of group HEM (12 vs. 35 months, p = 0.01). If those older than 65 years or with unfavourable prognostic factors at presentation were excluded, prolonged survival of group INT patients was observed and the curves of the two groups did not differ significantly anymore. These results show that the patients recruited by a specialized centre may represent a selected population with better prognostic factors and younger age and this may affect analysis of clinical trials. Participation of minor centres in clinical trials may considerably contribute in improving interpretation of results of therapy in myeloma and be more representative of the entire population.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

BCL-2 immunohistochemical evaluation in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and hairy cell leukemia before treatment with fludarabine and 2-chloro-deoxy-adenosine.

Bcl-2 overexpression has been shown to be associated with several malignancies, including B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL), mainly low-grade and follicular in type. It has as yet not been described in hairy cell leukemia (HCL). In 30 patients with CLL and 14 with HCL who were consecutively selected for treatment with purine analogues (Fludarabine in CLL and 2-chloro-deoxy-adenosine in HCL), we evaluated bcl-2 oncoprotein expression in leukemic cells on marrow sections that were taken before treatment and stained immunohistochemically with a monoclonal antibody (Dakopatts 124 clone), by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method. All samples were found to be bcl-2 positive, with a staining intensity that was moderate to strong in CLL and weak to moderate in HCL. 83% of CLL and 100% of HCL patients were responsive to purine analogues. These findings show that bcl-2 is overexpressed in almost all cases CLL and HCL and that bcl-2 overexpression does not predict a poor response to purine analogues, which are believed to induce apoptosis.

2-Chloroadenosine↗
PubMed1998

Autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma: a single centre experience.

Thirty-two patients with multiple myeloma (MM) were autografted in our Centre over a 3-year period. Twenty-three patients had a newly diagnosed MM submitted to one induction regimen and 9 had a refractory or relapsing disease treated with at least two different chemotherapy lines: 15 out of 32 patients were sensitive to conventional treatment. In 2 patients BM was harvested while in the majority PBSC were collected after administration of 7 g/m2 Cyclophosphamide plus G-CSF (in 25 patients) or G-CSF alone at the dose of 16 microg/Kg/daily for 5-7 days (in 5 patients). Conditioning regimen was busulfan 16 mg/Kg plus melphalan 120 mg/m2. One patient died of cerebral hemorrhage after reinfusion of PBSC. Out of 31 evaluable patients, 24 (77%) had a response which was complete in 6 patients (19%) and partial in 18 patients (58%), 5 cases (17%) had no response, and 2 (6%) showed myeloma progression. There was a statistical difference in the outcome between newly diagnosed and pretreated patients (p = 0.003). At a median follow-up of 9 months (range 5-37), two patients had died for progression and 3 out of the 29 alive, relapsed after 17, 18 and 36 months respectively. Although median overall survival was not reached, there was a significant survival benefit for autografted patients in comparison with a matched control group conventionally treated in our Centre before 1994 (p = 0.02).

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

[Role of autologous stem cell transplantation in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma].

Among lymphomas, treatment of Hodgkin's disease (HD) allows the highest cure-rate. Radiotherapy (RT) represents first choice therapy in early stages, providing complete remission (CR) rate even superior to 90%. Chemotherapy (CHT) or, when indicated, the combined modality treatment (CHT + RT) is successful, in terms of long overall survival (> 10 yrs) in more than 60% of patients with advanced stage disease at onset. Considering all stages of disease at onset, about 75% of patients can be cured. However, the remaining 25% results resistant to the conventional approach (CHT +/- RT) or, mainly, relapses after first CR. For these poor prognosis patients, it has been assessed the possibility of inducing (or reinducing) a CR by using high dose CHT with stem cells rescue. Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) consists in the administration of antiblastic drugs at so high dosages to require the consequent reinfusion of stem cells, preventively harvested and cryopreserved, thus dramatically decreasing the risk of a prolonged bone marrow aplasia. This procedure is currently performed as intensification treatment in selected cases of patients with advanced stage at onset, once in CR after first-line therapy. Therefore, the development of prognostic models aimed to define with higher sensibility and specificity patients at high risk of relapse and to be submitted to ASCT as consolidation therapy, is becoming of increasing interest.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma: a single center experience.

This study shows the feasibility and safety of autologous stem cell transplantation in 32 of 98 multiple myeloma patients referred to our institution over a 3-year period. Complete response rate was 19% and partial response rate 58%. A significantly better outcome was shown among newly diagnosed patients in comparison with pretreated patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Randomized trial of autologous filgrastim-primed bone marrow transplantation versus filgrastim-mobilized peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in lymphoma patients.

Although a large amount of data is available on the effects of filgrastim (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [G-CSF]) on the mobilization of stem cells in the circulation, data concerning its effects on bone marrow (BM) harvesting is scarce and controversial. We have designed a randomized trial comparing filgrastim-mobilized peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation with filgrastim-primed autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). Fifty-five patients affected by non-Hodgkin's (n = 38) or Hodgkin's (n = 17) lymphoma, selected for autologous transplantation over a 12-month period in a single institution, were randomized 2:1 to undergo BM or PB harvest/collection after priming for 3 days with filgrastim, 16 microg/kg body weight daily subcutaneously. BM priming with G-CSF allowed the harvest of a significantly higher number of mononuclear cells (MNC) (0.53 x 10(8)/kg, range, 0.32 to 1.40), as compared with a historical control of unprimed BM harvests (0.43 x 10(8) MNC/kg, range, 0.15 to 0.72, P = .001). After high-dose ablative therapy, median time to neutrophil recovery above 0.5 x 10(9)/L was 12 days for BM and 11 days for PB (P = .219); median time to platelet recovery above 20 x 10(9)/L was 13 days for BM and 11 days for PB (P = .242). The same number of red blood cells, platelet transfusions, and posttransplant G-CSF doses were required in the two groups of patients. Less patients (50% v 70%) became febrile in the group transplanted with mobilized PB, but days of fever/patient and days on antibiotics were overlapping. The median time spent in the hospital after reinfusion was 16.5 and 15.5 days after primed BM and primed PB, respectively (P = .134). These data suggest that in patients with lymphoma submitted to autologous transplantation, the reinfusion of filgrastim-primed BM or filgrastim-mobilized PB leads to similar results, with an advantage of only 1 day in the neutrophil recovery and 1 day on the time spent in the hospital in favor of primed PB. Either option can be chosen on the basis of the availability of a surgery room or cell separator facilities and considering the patients' characteristics and wishes.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗
PubMed1997

The genotype of the hepatitis C virus in patients with HCV-related B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Increasing evidence suggests that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) might be involved in the pathogenesis of B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). Since several HCV genotypes are currently identifiable and might be involved in the pathogenesis of different diseases (with different severity and responsiveness to therapy), the aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of viral genotypes in a group of patients with HCV-related NHL. Among 470 consecutive patients, 42 HCV Ab-positive cases were identified. HCV RNA could be detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and genotyping performed in 31 of these cases. As compared to our control group (211 healthy blood donors and patients with chronic liver disease), a striking high prevalence of genotype 2ac was detected among B cell NHL (48.4 vs 9.0%), with a relative risk of infection of 5.37 (P < 0.0001). No major differences were observed in the distribution of NHL histotypes and in the clinical features among patients with genotype 1b (the other most frequent genotype) or 2ac, a part from a trend towards a higher percentage of liver disease and a lower likelihood of response to interferon for patients with genotype 1b. The same high prevalence of genotype 2ac has been recently reported in patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC), monoclonal gammopathies, B cell NHL complicating MC and autoimmune hepatitis. All these data taken together suggest that genotype 2ac might be involved in the pathogenesis of lymphoproliferative and autoimmune disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

P-glycoprotein (PGP) and lung resistance-related protein (LRP) expression and function in leukaemic blast cells.

P-glycoprotein (PGP) lung resistance protein (LRP) and multidrug resistance associated protein (MRP) expressions and function were evaluated by flow cytometry in 65 leukaemic patients (38 acute non-lymphocytic leukaemias, eight acute lymphocytic leukaemias, 19 Ph-positive chronic myeloid leukaemias in blastic phase). By using the MRK-16, the LRP-56 and the MRPm6 MoAbs, 34% of the cases did not over-express any proteins (-); 24.5% over-expressed (+) only PGP, 11% only LRP, 1.5% only MRP, 24.5% both PGP and LRP, and 4.5% both PGP and MRP. The mean intracellular daunorubicin accumulation (IDA) and rhodamine 123 (Rh123) retention in the presence or absence of the reversal agent SDZ PSC 833 (PSC) of the PGP-/LRP-/MRP- cases were comparable to the ones observed in normal leucocytes. With respect to the non-over-expressing cases, the PGP-/LRP+/MRP- cases showed only an impaired IDA (mean 204 +/- 29; P < 0.001). The PGP+/ LRP+/MRP- cases had a defect both in IDA (mean 166 +/- 47, P < 0.001) and Rh123 retention (mean 0.42 +/- 0.14: P < 0.001), which were both corrected by PSC. All the PGP+/LRP+/MRP- cases had a defect in IDA (mean daunorubicin (DNR) accumulation 192 +/- 44; P < 0.001). However, only in 8/16 of them an evident defect in Rh123 retention was found. In conclusion, both PGP and LRP over-expression were common in leukaemia. An impaired IDA was found in all cases over-expressing PGP, LRP or both. The study of Rh123 retention could give incorrect information about the blast cells' ability to accumulate cytotoxic drugs in patients over-expressing both PGP and LRP.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1997

Sequential intensive treatment with the F-MACHOP regimen (+/- radiotherapy) and autologous stem cell transplantation for primary systemic CD30 (Ki-1)--positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma in adults.

Most of the adult patients with primary systemic CD30 (Ki-1)-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) reported in the literature have been treated with combination chemotherapy (CHT), with only an occasional patient being autotransplanted, mostly after relapse. Here we report a series of 19 patients treated at our Institution with a sequential intensive therapeutic program including CHT (the F-MACHOP regimen given for 6 cycles), radiotherapy (RT), and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) after conditioning with the BAVC regimen. Eleven of 19 (58%) patients achieved a complete remission (CR) after CHT; 3 after RT and 4 after ASCT (1 patient is still not evaluable for response to ASCT). The actuarial overall survival is 100% at a median of 49 months from diagnosis and the actuarial disease free survival is 100% at a median of 41 months from the time CR was reached. These data suggest that ALCL can be successfully managed with a sequential intensive treatment that prevents early relapses and projects these patients as long-term survivors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Treatment intensification of malignant lymphomas with autologous bone marrow transplantation and granulocyte colony stimulating factor.

Treatment intensification with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) was administered to 37 cases of Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL and NHL) who were in complete or partial remission (CR or PR) after chemotherapy (MOPP/ABVD or F-MACHOP respectively) and to 12 cases of HL and NHL who were in relapse. ABMT treatment was BAVC for NHL and BEAM for HL. Marrow cells were harvested from the marrow and cryopreserved. The number of mononuclear marrow cells that was reinfused ranged between 0.19 and 0.80 x 108/Kg b.w. (median 0.39). All the patients were treated with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF, Filgrastim) at a dose of 5 mg/Kg b.w. from day +4 until the absolute neutrophil count exceeded 1 x109/L for 3 consecutive days. Engraftment was observed in all cases, and no transplant-related deaths occurred. The patients with NHL and HL received a median of 12 (range 2-19) and 14.5 (range 9-27) doses of G-CSF respectively. Median time to 20 x 109/L platelet count was 14 to 17 days. Median time to an absolute neutrophil count 0.5x109/L was 13 days. A febrile episode during the period of post-transplant aplasia was documented in 35 patients (71%). Fever was associated with Gram+ bacteraemia in 31% of the cases and with Gram- bacteraemia in 11% of cases. Herpes Simplex infection was documented in two cases. No fungal infections were recorded. Median hospitalisation time from reinfusion ranged between 19.5 days (NHL) and 23 days (HL). Thirty-four of 37 cases (92%) who were transplanted in CR or in PR are currently alive and in continuous CR with a median follow-up time of 37 months after ABMT. Three of 12 cases (25%) who were transplanted in relapse are alive and in CR. Our data point out that ABMT followed by G-CSF is a safe and a very effective procedure for high risk malignant lymphomas, when ABMT is planned and is performed not as a rescue procedure but when it is integrated in the treatment strategy from the very beginning.

Journal Article↗