In adults with follicular lymphoma (FL), reduced-intensity allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) yields better long-term survival compared to autologous HCT, according to results of a study of 518 rituximab-treated patients with FL transplanted between 2000 and 2012. All patients had relapsed/refractory grades 1 and 2 FL, and their outcomes were reported to CIBMTR (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research). Results show 5-year progression-free survival was significantly higher in allogeneic vs. autologous HCT recipients: 58% vs. 41%, respectively (p<0.001). A higher incidence of non-relapse mortality at 5 years occurred in allogeneic patients compared to autologous patients (26% vs. 5%, respectively; p<0.001), mostly during the early post-HCT period. The authors note that a first allogeneic HCT in younger/fit patients may mitigate a greater risk of relapse (RR: 7.3, p<0.0001) found in autologous HCT patients beyond 2 years.
Klyuchnikov E, et al. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant
Patient-level summary of this study (PDF)