A multi-center retrospective study of reduced-intensity hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in 46 adults with follicular lymphoma has shown that this therapy can result in a 5-year overall survival (OS) of 71.6%. Most patients (n=29; 63%) were transplanted with progressive/refractory disease, and 11 (24%) and 6 (13%) were in complete remission and partial remission, respectively, at time of transplant. Five-year OS was 80.7% in patients transplanted in CR or PR, and 66.1% in those transplanted with progressive/refractory disease, but this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.29). There were no differences in relapse/progression and non-relapse mortality between the patients with chemosensitive disease and those with progressive/refractory disease. The researchers concluded that reduced-intensity HCT may be a valuable treatment option, even for patients with progressive/refractory follicular lymphoma.
Yano S, et al. Bone Marrow Transplant