A B S T R A C T PurposeTo analyze outcomes of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Patients and MethodsOutcomes of 241 patients (112 anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, 102 peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified, 27 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma) undergoing autologous HCT (autoHCT; n ϭ 115; median age, 43 years) or allogeneic HCT (alloHCT; n ϭ 126; median age, 38 years) were analyzed. Primary outcomes were nonrelapse mortality (NRM), relapse/progression, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Patient, disease, and HCT-related variables were analyzed in multivariate Cox proportional hazard models to determine association with outcomes. ResultsAutoHCT recipients were more likely in first complete remission (CR1; 35% v 14%; P ϭ .001) and with chemotherapy-sensitive disease (86% v 60%; P Ͻ .001), anaplastic large-cell histology (53% v 40%; P ϭ .04), and two or fewer lines of prior therapy (65% v 44%; P Ͻ .001) compared with alloHCT recipients. Three-year PFS and OS of autoHCT recipients beyond CR1 were 42% and 53%, respectively. Among alloHCT recipients who received transplantations beyond CR1, 31% remained progression-free at 3 years, despite being more heavily pretreated and with more refractory disease. NRM was 3.5-fold higher (95% CI, 1.80 to 6.99; P Ͻ .001) for alloHCT. In multivariate analysis, chemotherapy sensitivity (hazard ratio [HR], 1.8; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.87) and two or fewer lines of pretransplantation therapy (HR, 5.02; 95% CI, 2.15 to 11.72) were prognostic of survival. ConclusionThese data describe the roles of autoHCT and alloHCT in T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and suggest greater effectiveness earlier in the disease course, and limited utility in multiply relapsed disease. Notably, autoHCT at relapse may be a potential option for select patients, particularly those with anaplastic large-cell lymphoma histology.

• In combination with cyclophosphamide, intravenous busulfan is associated with better leukemia-free and overall survival in AML than TBI.Cyclophosphamide combined with total body irradiation (Cy/TBI) or busulfan (BuCy) are the most widely used myeloablative conditioning regimens for allotransplants. Recent data regarding their comparative effectiveness are lacking. We analyzed data from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research for 1230 subjects receiving a first hematopoietic cell transplant from a human leukocyte antigen-matched sibling or from an unrelated donor during the years 2000 to 2006 for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission (CR) after conditioning with Cy/TBI or oral or intravenous (IV) BuCy. Multivariate analysis showed significantly less nonrelapse mortality (relative risk [RR] 5 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.39-0.86; P 5 .007), and relapse after, but not before, 1 year posttransplant (RR 5 0.23; 95% CI: 0.08-0.65; P 5 .006), and better leukemia-free survival (RR 5 0.70; 95% CI: 0.55-0.88; P 5 .003) and survival (RR 5 0.68; 95% CI: 0.52-0.88; P 5 .003) in persons receiving IV, but not oral, Bu compared with TBI. In combination with Cy, IV Bu is associated with superior outcomes compared with TBI in patients with AML in first

These data indicate that high-dose chemotherapy with allogeneic BMT is effective at producing CRs in patients with CLL. Autologous transplantation in CLL is feasible and is capable of producing remissions in patients with advanced CLL. Further studies are warranted to assess the role of BMT in the treatment of CLL.

These results compare favorably with those for autologous BMT. Allogeneic BMT offers considerable promise for the treatment of patients with poor-prognosis low-grade lymphoma. Its role should be further defined in prospective studies.

Thirty adults with leukemia or lymphoma undergoing marrow transplantation from HLA-compatible unrelated donors received tacrolimus (FK506), a new immunosuppressive macrolide lactone, and minidose methotrexate to prevent acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The group had a median age of 36 years (range 21 to 49 years). Twenty-four patients had advanced disease, and 11 were resistant to conventional therapy. Tacrolimus was administered at 0.03 mg/kg/d intravenously (i.v.) by continuous infusion from day -2, converted to oral at four times the i.v. dose following engraftment, and continued through day 180 posttransplant. Methotrexate 5 mg/m2 was given i.v. on days 1, 3, 6, and 11. All patients engrafted. Grades 2–4 GVHD occurred in 34% (95% CI, 17% to 52%), and grades 3–4 GVHD in 17% (95% CI, 3% to 31%). Mild renal toxicity was common before day 100; 63% of patients had a doubling of creatinine, and 52% had a peak creatinine greater than 2 mg/dL, but only one patient was dialyzed. The median last i.v. dose of tacrolimus was 53% of the scheduled dose, and the median oral dose on day 100 was 41% of that scheduled. Overall survival at 1 year was 47% (95% CI, 27% to 66%). We conclude that tacrolimus can be combined safely with minidose methotrexate, and the combination has substantial activity in preventing acute GVHD after unrelated donor marrow transplantation.

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) disproportionately affect older patients who uncommonly receive allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). We analyzed CIBMTR data on 1248 patients ≥40 years receiving reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) or non-myeloablative (NMA) HCT for aggressive (n=668) and indolent (n=580) NHL. Aggressive lymphoma was more frequent in the oldest cohort [(age 40–54) 49% vs. (55–64) 57% vs. (≥65) 67% p=0.0008]; fewer patients ≥65 had prior autografting [26% vs. 24% vs. 9%; p=0.002)]. Rates of relapse, acute and chronic GVHD and non-relapse mortality (NRM) at one year were similar [22%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 19–26%; 27%, 95% CI 23–31%; 34%, 95% CI 24–44%]. Progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survival at 3 years was slightly lower in older cohorts [OS:54%, 95% CI 50–58%; 40%, 95% CI 36–44%; 39%, 95% CI 28–50%; p<0.0001]. Multivariate analysis revealed no significant effect of age on acute or chronic GVHD or relapse. Age ≥55 years, Karnofsky performance status <80, and HLA-mismatch adversely impacted NRM, PFS, and OS. Disease status at HCT, but not histologic subtype, worsened NRM, relapse, PFS and OS. Even for patients ≥55 years, OS still approached 40% at 3 years suggesting HCT effects long-term remissions and remains underutilized in qualified older patients with NHL.

Cyclophosphamide in combination with busulfan (Bu) or total body irradiation (TBI) are the most commonly used myeloablative conditioning regimens in patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). We used data from the Center for International Bone Marrow Transplantation Research to compare outcomes in adults who underwent hematopoietic cell transplantation for CML in first chronic phase following myeloablative conditioning with cyclophosphamide (Cy) in combination with TBI, oral Bu or intravenous (IV) Bu. Four hundred thirty-eight adults received human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling grafts and 235 received well-matched grafts from unrelated donors from 2000 through 2006. Important differences existed between the groups in distribution of donor relation, exposure to tyrosine kinase inhibitors and year of transplantation. In multivariate analysis, relapse occurred less frequently among patients receiving IV Bu compared to TBI (RR=0.36; P=0.022) or oral Bu (RR=0.39; P=0.028), but non-relapse mortality and survival were similar. A significant interaction was detected between donor relation and the main effect in leukemia-free survival (LFS). Among recipients of HLA-identical sibling grafts, but not URD grafts, LFS was better in patients receiving IV (RR=0.53; P=0.025) or oral Bu (RR=0.64; P=0.017) compared to TBI. In CML in first chronic phase, Cy in combination with IV Bu was associated with less relapse than TBI or oral Bu. LFS was better following IV or oral Bu compared to TBI.

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