Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Medical Oncology 3/2013

Open Access 01.09.2013 | Original Paper

Prognostic factors and long-term outcome of autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation following a uniform-modified BEAM-conditioning regimen for patients with refractory or relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma: a single-center experience

verfasst von: Anna Czyz, Anna Lojko-Dankowska, Dominik Dytfeld, Adam Nowicki, Lidia Gil, Magdalena Matuszak, Maria Kozlowska-Skrzypczak, Maciej Kazmierczak, Ewa Bembnista, Mieczysław Komarnicki

Erschienen in: Medical Oncology | Ausgabe 3/2013

Abstract

Despite the well-defined role of autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (autoHCT) in the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), relapse remains the main cause of transplant failure. We retrospectively evaluated long-term outcome and prognostic factors affecting survival of 132 patients with refractory (n = 89) or relapsed HL (n = 43) treated with autoHCT following modified BEAM. With a median follow-up of 68 months, the 10-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 76 and 66 %, respectively. The 10-year cumulative incidence of second malignancies was 7 %. In multivariate analysis, age ≥45 years, more than one salvage regimens and disease status at transplant worse than CR were factors predictive for poor OS. In relapsed HL, age at transplant, response duration (<12 vs. ≥12 months) and the number of salvage regimens were independent predictors for PFS. In the refractory setting, disease status at autoHCT and the number of salvage regimens impacted PFS. The number of risk factors was inversely correlated with PFS in both relapsed and refractory HL (p = 0.003 and <0.001, respectively). The median PFS for patients with >1 risk factor in the relapsed and refractory setting was 5 and 11 months, respectively, in comparison with the median PFS not reached for patients with 0–1 risk factor in both settings. We conclude that high proportion of patients with relapsed/refractory HL can be cured with autoHCT. However, the presence of two or more risk factors helps to identify poor prognosis patients who may benefit from novel treatment strategies.

Introduction

During the last decades, the development of efficient combination chemotherapy and more appropriate radiotherapy has improved overall long-term survival from Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) with preserving the balance between treatment high efficacy and acceptable toxicity. With modern up-front therapy, complete remission rate exceeds 80–85 %. However, about 15–20 % of patients with advanced HL do not achieve CR, and in addition, approximately 20–25 % of patients are expected to relapse at different time intervals from complete remission. High-dose therapy (HDT) followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (autoHCT) is considered the standard treatment recommended by available guidelines for patients with relapsed or refractory HL [1, 2]. This treatment provides long-term disease-free survival in over 50 % of patients [35]. Unfortunately, approximately 30 % of patients develop a recurrence after autoHCT [6, 7]. The prognosis in postransplant relapsed setting is poor [7, 8]. Therefore, the identification of patients with high risk of relapse after autoHCT is important, since new treatment strategies with novel agents are evaluated in ongoing studies. Clinical features that are considered important survival predictors include first response duration, the number of salvage therapy lines, chemosensitivity before autoHCT, age, presence of extranodal disease, B symptoms and anemia [5, 913]. However, the results of published studies on risk factors predicting survival after autoHCT revealed some discrepancies. More recently, the role of prefunctional imaging (FI) with 18F-fluoro-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) has been intensively investigated. There has been reported some evidence which proves that the negative 18FDG-PET status may be an independent determinant of favorable outcome after autoHCT [1418].
To enhance the published experience, we conducted a retrospective review and present our single-center experience of patients who underwent autoHCT following modified BEAM preparative regimen for refractory or relapsed HL. We intended to report the long-term outcome and to define the prognostic factors that influenced outcome after autoHCT. Herein, we report the results of this analysis.

Patients and methods

Study population

We retrospectively reviewed the data of all patients with refractory or relapsed HL who were treated with modified BEAM regimen followed by autoHCT between January 2001 and December 2011 at our center. Refractory disease was defined as active disease (response worse than complete remission) after first-line chemotherapy or relapse within 3 months of its completion. Patients with relapsed disease were those who relapsed after at least 3 months of complete remission achieved with frontline therapy.
Patients records were reviewed to obtain patient characteristics and treatment details (clinical stage according to the Ann Arbor system, presence of B symptoms, the type of first-line chemotherapy, response to first-line chemotherapy, the duration of remission, the number and type of salvage chemotherapy lines, radiotherapy before autotransplant, disease status at transplant, absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) before starting HDT, ALC at 15 ± 1 day following autologous stem cell infusion). Complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD) and disease progression were defined using standard criteria [19]. Pretransplant evaluation and re-evaluation after transplant included physical examination, computed tomography (CT), blood count, chemistry evaluation and bone marrow biopsy in patients with bone marrow involvement at diagnosis or at relapse/progression. Pretransplant 18FDG-PET has been performed routinely since May 2008. Patients provided informed consent for the treatment.

Transplant procedures

Patients underwent hematopoietic cell collection either by bone marrow harvest or by leukapheresis following stem cell mobilization. Stem cell mobilization was performed using salvage chemotherapy or cyclophosphamide (4 g/m2) ± etoposide (600 mg/m2) with G-CSF stimulation. The stem cells were cryopreserved without further manipulation. The high-dose modified BEAM regimen consisted of carmustine (total dose 300 mg/m2), etoposide (total dose 800 mg/m2), cytarabine (total dose 6,000 mg/m2), melphalan (total dose 140 mg/m2) and dexamethasone (total dose 168 mg/m2).

Statistical analysis

Survival curves were estimated according to the method of Kaplan and Meier. Overall survival (OS) was measured from the time of transplantation until death from any cause, and progression-free survival (PFS) was measured from the time of transplantation until documented progression or relapse or death from any reason. Non-relapse mortality (NRM) was defined as death from any cause other than lymphoma relapse/progression. The probabilities of NRM, relapse and second malignancy were calculated with the cumulative incidence estimator. The cumulative incidence of NRM and relapse was calculated with either relapse- or non-relapse-related mortality treated as competing risk. The cumulative incidence of second malignancy was calculated in the survivors’ group, with death from any reason other than second neoplasm treated as a competing risk.
The two-tailed log-rank test was utilized to compare the curves. p values <0.05 were considered significant. Potential prognostic factors, age, clinical stage, presence of B symptoms, a duration of remission, a total number of salvage chemotherapy lines before autoHCT, radiotherapy prior to transplant, ALC at transplant, disease status at transplant and ALC at 15 ± 1 day after stem cell infusion were evaluated for OS and PFS in univariate analysis. Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariable analysis.
SPSS version 14.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL) was used for all statistical analyses except of cumulative incidence curves analyses, which were calculated using the statistical package NCSS version 2007 (NCSS, Kaysville, UT).

Results

Patients characteristics, prior treatment and transplantation procedures details

From January 2001 to December 2011, the 132 patients (71 men and 61 women) with refractory (n = 89) or relapsed (n = 43) HL underwent autoHCT following modified BEAM-conditioning regimen. Patient baseline characteristics and treatment details are presented in Table 1.
Table 1
Patient characteristics and treatment details
Characteristics
Number (%)
Total number of pts
132 (100)
Age (years)
 Median 42, range 15–64
 
 <45 years
111 (84)
 ≥45 years
21 (16)
Gender
 Male
71 (54)
 Female
61 (46)
Clinical stage
 II
28 (21)
 III
33 (25)
 IV
67 (51)
 Unknown
4 (3)
Constitutional symptoms
 Absent
32 (24)
 Present
94 (71)
 Unknown
6 (5)
Induction chemotherapy
 ABVD
108 (82)
 BEACOPP or escalated BEACOPP
14 (11)
 MOPP
6 (4)
 Other regimens
4 (3)
Duration of remission in group of patients with relapsed disease (n = 43)
 <=12 months
20 (46.5)
 >12 months
23 (53.5)
Second-line chemotherapy
 ESHAP or DHAP
120 (91)
 Escalated BEACOPP
10 (7.5)
 Other regimens
2 (1.5)
Number of pretransplant salvage chemotherapy lines
 1
86 (65)
 >1
46 (35)
Radiotherapy prior to autoHCT
 No
71 (54)
 Yes
61 (46)
One hundred and eight of the 132 patients (82 %) had received ABVD regimen as a frontline chemotherapy. The vast majority of patients (91 %) received cisplatin-based regimen, DHAP (dexamethasone, cytarabine, cisplatin) or ESHAP (etoposide, methylprednisolone, cytarabine, cisplatin), as first-line salvage chemotherapy. Subsequent lines of salvage treatment included IVE (ifosfamide, etoposide, epirubicin), ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin, etoposide), dexaBEAM (dexamethasone, carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan) or gemcitabine-based regimens. The patients received a median of 1 (range 1–4) salvage chemotherapy line prior to autoHCT. Finally, fifty-nine patients were in CR and sixty-two in PR at autoHCT, respectively. Eleven patients did not respond to the salvage chemotherapy and they underwent autoHCT in less than PR. Pretransplant 18FDG-PET was performed in 33 (25 %) of the 132 patients at the time of admission for HDT. Twenty-two of those 33 patients had negative 18FDG-PET scans. 18FDG-PET was positive in 11 patients.
The autologous graft source was mobilized peripheral blood in 74 % and bone marrow in 18 % of all cases. Eight percent of patients received both bone marrow and mobilized peripheral blood as a source of stem cells. The median number of infused CD34-positive cells was 5.0 × 106 cells/kg (range 2.4–6.7). Engraftment was observed in all but four patients who died within 10 days of autoHCT from infection. Recovery to granulocyte count >0.5 G/l occurred at a median 13 days and platelet count >20 G/l at a median 15 days. Table 2 shows transplant details.
Table 2
Transplant details
Characteristics
Number (%)
Disease status at autoHCT
 CR
59 (45)
 PR
62 (47)
 Less than PR
11 (8)
PET status at autoHCT
 Negative
22 (17)
 Positive
11 (8)
 Not performed
99 (75)
Autologous graft source
 Mobilized peripheral blood
97 (74)
 Bone marrow
24 (18)
 Bone marrow and mobilized peripheral blood
11 (8)
Conditioning regimen
 Modified BEAM
132 (100)
 Lymphocyte count on day +15 after autoHCT
 Median 380/μl, range 15–2,560/μl
 
 ≤500/μl
92 (70)
 >500/μl
31 (23)
 Not applicable
4 (3)
 Not done
5 (4)
CR complete response, PR partial response, autoHCT autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Survival data

The median follow-up time of surviving patients is 68 months (range 10–139 months). Figure 1 illustrates the Kaplan–Meier survival curves for the whole study group. At 5 and 10 years after transplantation, estimated OS was 77.0 % (95 % CI 68.3–83.9 %) and 75.6 % (95 % CI 66.8–82.7 %), respectively. The respective PFS rates were 69.1 % (95 % CI 60.3–76.5 %) and 65.6 % (95 % CI 55.9–74.0 %) (Fig. 1).
Patients with refractory HL had similar 5-year OS estimates to those with relapsed disease [77.8 % (95 % CI 69.5–87.4 %) and 71.1 % (95 % CI 55.0–83.2 %), respectively, p = 0.46]. The respective 5-year PFS rates were 71.4 % (95 % CI 60.6–80.2 %) and 64.5 % (95 % CI 49.3–77.2 %) (p = 0.46).
When patients were stratified by the disease status at transplant, the 5-year OS estimates were 91.0 % (95 % CI 80.7–96.2 %), 71.3 % (95 % CI 58.3–81.6 %) and 27.7 % (95 % CI 8.7–60.7 %) for patients in CR, PR and less than PR, respectively (p < 0.001). The respective 5-year PFS rates were 84.6 % (95 % CI 73.3–91.7 %), 65.1 % (95 % CI 52.3–75.9 %) and 11.4 % (95 % CI 2.1–43.5 %) (p < 0.001) (Fig. 2).
Pretransplant 18FDG-PET was available for 33 patients. Two-year OS for patients with negative and positive scans was 90.9 % (95 % CI 72.3–97.5 %) and 77.8 % (95 % CI 45.2–93.7 %), respectively (p = 0.22), whereas the respective 2-year PFS was 81.8 % (95 % CI 61.5–92.7 %) and 12.1 % (95 % CI 2.3–45.0 %) (p = 0.001). The median PFS was not reached for patients with negative 18FDG-PET scans, compared to 9 months for patients with positive status (Fig. 3).
Thirty-four patients experienced relapse or disease progression after autoHCT. The 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse was 26 % (95 % CI 20–35 %). All but one of the 34 relapses occurred within 36 months of autoHCT.
Twenty-eight patients (21 %) in our study have died. The cause of death in 18 patients was relapse/progression of the disease. Four other patients who relapsed after autoHCT died from complications after subsequent allogeneic (n = 3) or autologous (n = 1) haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Six patients have died from causes not related to lymphoma relapse/progression. The causes of deaths included infections, veno-occlusive disease (VOD) and second acute myeloid leukemia. The 1-year and 5-year cumulative incidence of NRM was 2 % (95 % CI 1–7 %) and 4 % (95 % CI 1–10 %), respectively. Second malignancy occurred in 3 of the 132 patients, including two acute myeloid leukemias and one acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The second neoplasms developed at a median of 8 years (range 4.7–8.4 years) from autoHCT. The 10-year cumulative incidence of developing a second malignancy was 7 % (95 % CI 2–22 %).

Prognostic factors analysis

Univariate analysis identified several risk factors for OS and PFS for the whole study group (Table 3). The following factors were found to be significant for OS: age at transplant (<45 vs. ≥45 years) (p < 0.001), disease status at transplant (CR vs. less than CR) (p = 0.003), number of pretransplant salvage chemotherapy lines (1 vs. >1) (p = 0.001) and ALC at 15 ± 1 day after autoHCT (≤500 vs. >500/μl) (p = 0.056). Poor PFS was associated with more than one salvage chemotherapy line prior to autoHCT (p < 0.001) and disease status at transplant worse than CR (p = 0.002). In multivariate analysis, the number of pretransplant salvage chemotherapy lines and disease status at transplant remained significant for both OS and PFS. In addition, OS was significantly impacted by age at transplant (Table 4).
Table 3
Univariate analysis of prognostic factors associated with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) for all patients
Group
N
5-year OS (95 % CI)
p
5-year PFS (95 % CI)
p
Clinical stage
 II
29
82.2 (64.6–92.1)
0.79
72.1 (53.8–85.2)
0.83
 III–IV
99
75.1 (64.7–83.2)
 
69.1 (58.9–77.7)
 
B symptoms at diagnosis
 No
32
69.4 (48.1–84.7)
0.42
59.2 (40.4–75.6)
0.30
 Yes
94
78.1 (67.9–85.7)
 
72.6 (62.4–80.6)
 
Gender
 Male
71
71.5 (58.4–81.7)
0.38
65.3 (52.8–76.0)
0.43
 Female
61
79.7 (67.1–88.3)
 
73.0 (60.5–82.7)
 
Age at transplant
 <45 years
111
81.6 (72.6–88.1)
<0.001
73.4 (64.2–80.8)
0.056
 ≥45 years
21
39.3 (17.4–66.6)
 
40.2 (18.0–67.4)
 
Disease status at transplant
 CR
59
91.0 (80.7–96.2)
0.003
84.6 (73.3–91.7)
0.002
 Less than CR
73
72.1 (35.5–76.3)
 
57.6 (45.6–68.5)
 
Number of prior salvage regimens
 1
86
85.1 (75.7–91.3)
0.001
82.1 (72.5–88.9)
<0.001
 2 or more
46
51.4 (33.3–69.2)
 
41.2 (25.1–58.0)
 
Radiotherapy before transplant
 No
71
76.1 (63.5–85.4)
0.87
68.3 (56.2–78.4)
0.65
 Yes
61
73.7 (60.2–83.9)
 
68.7 (55.7–79.3)
 
Lymphocyte count on day +15
 ≤500/μl
92
72.2 (26.2–79.8)
0.056
66.7 (56.0–75.9)
0.335
 >500/μl
31
91.3 (47.1–77.0)
 
79.2 (61.1–90.2)
 
CI confidence interval, CR complete response, PR partial response
Table 4
Summary of results from overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) cox model
Group
OS
PFS
HR (95 % CI)
p
HR (95 % CI)
p
All patients
Number of salvage regimens before HCT
 1 versus 2 or more
2.83 (1.31–6.10)
0.008
3.26 (1.69–6.29)
<0.001
Disease status at transplant
 CR versus less than CR
2.80 (1.04–7.50)
0.030
2.33 (1.09–4.98)
0.029
Age at transplant
 <45 versus ≥45 years
3.52 (1.62–7.67)
0.001
 
ns
Patients with relapse
Age at transplant
 <45 versus ≥45 years
5.47 (1.65–18.13)
0.005
4.99 (1.48–16.80)
0.010
Remission duration
 <12 versus ≥12 months
3.17 (0.91–19.98)
0.069
3.17 (1.05–9.51)
0.040
Number of salvage regimens before HCT
 1 versus 2 or more
 
ns
4.40 (1.39–13.90)
0.012
Patients with refractory disease
Number of salvage regimens before HCT
 1 versus 2 or more
3.83 (1.38–10.65)
0.010
3.89 (1.67–9.08)
0.002
Disease status at transplant
 CR versus less than CR
6.43 (0.84–49.50)
0.074
5.24 (1.22–22.48)
0.026
HR hazard ratio, CI confidence interval, CR complete response, HCT haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Within the group of patients with relapsed disease, univariate analysis revealed that poor OS was associated with age ≥45 years versus <45 years at transplant (5-year OS estimates 37.5 vs. 79.5 %; p = 0.003) and ALC ≤500 versus. >500/μl at 15 ± 1 day after autoHCT (5-year OS estimates 62 vs. 100 %; p = 0.037). In addition, duration of remission and disease status at transplant tended to impact OS (p = 0.082 and 0.080, respectively). PFS was adversely impacted by more than one versus one salvage chemotherapy line prior to transplant (5-year PFS estimates 43 vs. 75 %; p = 0.027), the duration of remission <12 versus ≥12 months (5-year PFS estimates 49 vs. 78 %; p = 0.025), and age ≥45 years versus <45 years at transplant (5-year PFS estimates 37 vs. 71 %; p = 0.073). In multivariate analysis, age at transplant remained significant for both OS and PFS. Additionally, the number of salvage chemotherapy lines and the length of remission were independently prognostic for PFS (Table 4). Having found age ≥45 years, more than one salvage chemotherapy line and duration of remission <12 months as the independent predictors of PFS for patients with relapsed disease, we divided those patients into two groups according to the number of identified independent unfavorable factors for outcome (0–1 vs. 2–3). The median PFS was not reached for patients with 0–1 risk factors (n = 64), compared to 5 months for patients with 2–3 risk factors (n = 25) (p = 0.003) (Fig. 4).
Among the patients with refractory disease, univariate analysis revealed that worse OS was associated with more than one versus one salvage chemotherapy line prior to autoHCT (5-year OS estimates 45 vs. 89 %; p = 0.001), age ≥45 versus <45 years (5-year OS estimates 43 vs. 82 %; p = 0.035) and less than CR versus CR at transplant (5-year OS estimates 69 vs. 97 %; p = 0.010). Poor PFS was associated with more than one versus one salvage chemotherapy line prior to autoHCT (5-year estimates 37 vs. 86 %; p < 0.001) and less than CR versus CR at transplant (61 vs. 93 %; p = 0.003). In multivariate analysis, the number of salvage chemotherapy lines and disease status at transplant impacted both OS and PFS (Table 4). Consequently, patients with refractory disease were divided into two groups according to the number of identified independent unfavorable factors for outcome (0–1 vs. 2). The median PFS was not reached for patients with 0–1 risk factor (n = 33), compared to 11 months for patients with two risk factors (n = 10) (p < 0.001) (Fig. 5).

Discussion

The role of high-dose therapy and autoHCT for patients with relapsed and refractory HL is well defined. In this study of 132 patients with relapsed or refractory HL, we confirmed that the high proportion of these patients can be cured with autoHCT following modified BEAM regimen. Since there are no available published results of prospective trials comparing HDT regimens as a part of autoHCT, the usage of modified BEAM with escalated dose of cytarabine was based on the institutional preference and experience. The long median follow-up time exceeding 5 years has allowed to evaluate the 10-year outcomes of HDT and autoHCT. The 10-year OS and PFS were 76 and 66 % in our study, respectively, which is consistent with reported results of studies published in the last decade, across which the range of PFS was from 60 to 71 % at 5-10 years for patients treated with BEAM-like preparative regimens [12, 16, 20]. Regarding late events, the 10-year cumulative incidence of second malignancies was 7 %, which is in line with the previously published studies. A 5-year CI of second malignancies reported by Sureda was 4.3 % [3] and a 15-year CI reported by Forrest and Goodman was 8 and 15.3 % [21, 22], respectively. Our study confirms that relapse is the main cause of transplant failure, since the 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse exceeded 25 % in the present analysis. It is noteworthy also that more than 95 % of relapses occurred within 3 years of autoHCT.
As previously stated, the long-term outcomes of autoHCT are highly associated with disease sensitivity to pretransplant salvage chemotherapy [10, 11] and the number of salvage regimens [5, 13]. Consistent with other reports, we also observed a major prognostic effect of disease status at HDT and the number of salvage chemotherapy lines on both OS and PFS after transplant. In addition, we identified patient age at transplant as independently affecting OS in our analysis. Age is a well-known prognostic factor at first-line treatment identified by the International Prognostic Factors Project [23], but its impact on outcome after autoHCT has not been clearly defined. Bierman et al. [13] analyzed the impact of prognostic factors included in the International Prognostic Index on the survival of patients with HL treated with autoHCT and confirmed that age, low serum albumin, anemia and lymphocytopenia were independently associated with poorer event-free survival and overall survival after transplant. Sirohi et al. [11] also reported that the International Prognostic Index independently predicts both OS and PFS after autoHCT. In contrast, the other authors reported no association between age and transplant outcomes [5, 12, 24, 25]. Interestingly, we have found age at transplant as independently associated with the outcomes of autoHCT for patients with relapsed HL. In contrast, we did not prove that age affected OS or PFS of patients with refractory disease.
Pretransplant 18FDG-PET status was not included in multivariate analysis in the present study, since the group evaluated by PET was small, consisting of 33 patients. However, it is worth pointing out that 18FDG-PET was strongly correlated with PFS in univariate analysis. The outcome for 18FDG-PET-positive patients was poor with the median PFS of 9 months, which is in agreement with results reported by other authors [14, 15, 18].
In addition to the evaluation of predictive value of different clinical features, we investigated also the impact of early lymphocyte recovery after autoHCT on the outcomes of transplant. Early lymphocyte recovery after autoHCT has been shown to be associated with positive clinical outcome in non-Hodgkin lymphoma [26]. However, there are limited and conflicting data on whether it affects posttransplantation outcome in HL [2729]. The results of our univariate analysis revealed that ALC >500/mcl at 15 ± 1 day was associated with better OS in the whole study group and in the subgroup of patients with relapsed disease (p = 0.056 and 0.037, respectively). In contrast, for patients with refractory disease, no association of this parameter with the outcomes after transplant was found. We concluded that early lymphocyte recovery after autoHCT is associated with better OS of patients with relapsed HL undergoing transplantation, though it does not independently predict better survival after transplant.
Furthermore, we have demonstrated that the number of identified independent adverse prognostic factors is inversely correlated with PFS after autoHCT. For patients with relapsed disease, multivariate analysis revealed that age ≥45 years at transplant, duration of remission <12 months and the number of salvage therapy lines >1 appeared to be independent adverse predictors for PFS. The results of our study indicate that the outcome of autoHCT for patients with 2 or 3 of these factors is very poor with the median PFS below 6 months. Among patients with refractory disease, the outcomes were impacted by the disease status at transplant and the number of salvage therapy lines. Similarly, the outcome of patients with 2 independent risk factors seemed to be not satisfactory with the median PFS of 11 months. Moreover, it is noteworthy that the median PFS was not reached for patients with none or only one risk factor in both refractory and relapsed setting. Our results are in line with the results of several other groups evaluating the correlation between the survival after autoHCT and the number of identified independent risk factors. The results of previously published studies also demonstrated that the presence of two or three different risk factors, such as time to relapse <12 months [4, 9, 30], less than minimal disease at transplant [31], the number of prior chemotherapy regimens [32], extranodal disease [4, 9, 32], B symptoms [4, 30, 31], poor performance status [30] or nodular sclerosis histology [30], is associated with worse outcomes in comparison with the survival of patients with one adverse factor. Our results confirm that the use of distinct clinical features may allow to predict the risk of autoHCT failure. The treatment strategy for patients with two or three adverse clinical prognostic factors remains the area for further studies on new salvage regimens or posttransplant maintenance therapy with novel agents that are non-cross-resistant to chemotherapy. It should be mentioned that no patients in our report received such therapy. The results of studies with agents such as brentuximab vedotin or histone deacetylase inhibitors in this clinical setting are awaited.
In conclusion, the results of the present study support the current standard of HDT followed by autoHCT for patients with relapsed and refractory HL. Despite the limitations of the retrospective study, the use of uniform-modified BEAM regimen and long-term follow-up exceeding 5 years allow a realistic assessment of long-term outcomes and complications after autoHCT. Our study confirms that more than 70 % of patients with relapsed or refractory HL without adverse prognostic factors may be cured with HDT and autoHCT. However, the outcome following autoHCT of patients with two or more risk factors is poor. We believe that the results of our study may be helpful in identification of these higher-risk patients, who may benefit most from the use of novel agents in the pre- or posttransplant setting. The results of our analysis, based on limited number of patients, also suggest that pretransplant 18FDG-PET-positive status is associated with extremely poor PFS after autoHCT and support further investigations on optimal treatment options for patients with 18FDG-PET-positive status after salvage chemotherapy .

Acknowledgments

We thank the nurses and physicians of the transplant unit for the dedicated patient care.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits any use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the source are credited.

Unsere Produktempfehlungen

e.Med Interdisziplinär

Kombi-Abonnement

Für Ihren Erfolg in Klinik und Praxis - Die beste Hilfe in Ihrem Arbeitsalltag

Mit e.Med Interdisziplinär erhalten Sie Zugang zu allen CME-Fortbildungen und Fachzeitschriften auf SpringerMedizin.de.

e.Med Innere Medizin

Kombi-Abonnement

Mit e.Med Innere Medizin erhalten Sie Zugang zu CME-Fortbildungen des Fachgebietes Innere Medizin, den Premium-Inhalten der internistischen Fachzeitschriften, inklusive einer gedruckten internistischen Zeitschrift Ihrer Wahl.

Literatur
1.
Zurück zum Zitat Eichenauer DA, Engert A, Dreyling M. Hodgkin’s lymphoma: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2011;22(Suppl 6):vi55–8.PubMedCrossRef Eichenauer DA, Engert A, Dreyling M. Hodgkin’s lymphoma: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2011;22(Suppl 6):vi55–8.PubMedCrossRef
2.
Zurück zum Zitat Brusamolino E, Bacigalupo A, Barosi G, et al. Classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma in adults: guidelines of the Italian Society of Hematology, the Italian Society of Experimental Hematology, and the Italian Group for Bone Marrow Transplantation on initial work-up, management, and follow-up. Haematologica. 2009;94(4):550–65.PubMedCrossRef Brusamolino E, Bacigalupo A, Barosi G, et al. Classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma in adults: guidelines of the Italian Society of Hematology, the Italian Society of Experimental Hematology, and the Italian Group for Bone Marrow Transplantation on initial work-up, management, and follow-up. Haematologica. 2009;94(4):550–65.PubMedCrossRef
3.
Zurück zum Zitat Sureda A, Arranz R, Iriondo A, et al. Autologous stem-cell transplantation for Hodgkin’s disease: results and prognostic factors in 494 patients from the Grupo Espanol de Linfomas/Transplante Autologo de Medula Osea Spanish Cooperative Group. J Clin Oncol. 2001;19(5):1395–404.PubMed Sureda A, Arranz R, Iriondo A, et al. Autologous stem-cell transplantation for Hodgkin’s disease: results and prognostic factors in 494 patients from the Grupo Espanol de Linfomas/Transplante Autologo de Medula Osea Spanish Cooperative Group. J Clin Oncol. 2001;19(5):1395–404.PubMed
4.
Zurück zum Zitat Moskowitz CH, Nimer SD, Zelenetz AD, et al. A 2-step comprehensive high-dose chemoradiotherapy second-line program for relapsed and refractory Hodgkin disease: analysis by intent to treat and development of a prognostic model. Blood. 2001;97(3):616–23.PubMedCrossRef Moskowitz CH, Nimer SD, Zelenetz AD, et al. A 2-step comprehensive high-dose chemoradiotherapy second-line program for relapsed and refractory Hodgkin disease: analysis by intent to treat and development of a prognostic model. Blood. 2001;97(3):616–23.PubMedCrossRef
5.
Zurück zum Zitat Czyz J, Dziadziuszko R, Knopinska-Postuszuy W, et al. Outcome and prognostic factors in advanced Hodgkin’s disease treated with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation: a study of 341 patients. Ann Oncol. 2004;15(8):1222–30.PubMedCrossRef Czyz J, Dziadziuszko R, Knopinska-Postuszuy W, et al. Outcome and prognostic factors in advanced Hodgkin’s disease treated with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation: a study of 341 patients. Ann Oncol. 2004;15(8):1222–30.PubMedCrossRef
6.
Zurück zum Zitat Kewalramani T, Nimer SD, Zelenetz AD, et al. Progressive disease following autologous transplantation in patients with chemosensitive relapsed or primary refractory Hodgkin’s disease or aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2003;32(7):673–9.CrossRef Kewalramani T, Nimer SD, Zelenetz AD, et al. Progressive disease following autologous transplantation in patients with chemosensitive relapsed or primary refractory Hodgkin’s disease or aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2003;32(7):673–9.CrossRef
7.
Zurück zum Zitat Popat U, Hosing C, Saliba RM, et al. Prognostic factors for disease progression after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for recurrent or refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2004;33(10):1015–23.CrossRef Popat U, Hosing C, Saliba RM, et al. Prognostic factors for disease progression after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for recurrent or refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2004;33(10):1015–23.CrossRef
8.
Zurück zum Zitat Moskowitz AJ, Perales MA, Kewalramani T, et al. Outcomes for patients who fail high dose chemoradiotherapy and autologous stem cell rescue for relapsed and primary refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. Br J Haematol. 2009;146(2):158–63.PubMedCrossRef Moskowitz AJ, Perales MA, Kewalramani T, et al. Outcomes for patients who fail high dose chemoradiotherapy and autologous stem cell rescue for relapsed and primary refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. Br J Haematol. 2009;146(2):158–63.PubMedCrossRef
9.
Zurück zum Zitat Brice P, Bouabdallah R, Moreau P, et al. Prognostic factors for survival after high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for patients with relapsing Hodgkin’s disease: analysis of 280 patients from the French registry. Societe Francaise de Greffe de Moelle. Bone Marrow Transpl. 1997;20(1):21–6.CrossRef Brice P, Bouabdallah R, Moreau P, et al. Prognostic factors for survival after high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for patients with relapsing Hodgkin’s disease: analysis of 280 patients from the French registry. Societe Francaise de Greffe de Moelle. Bone Marrow Transpl. 1997;20(1):21–6.CrossRef
10.
Zurück zum Zitat Sureda A, Constans M, Iriondo A, et al. Prognostic factors affecting long-term outcome after stem cell transplantation in Hodgkin’s lymphoma autografted after a first relapse. Ann Oncol. 2005;16(4):625–33.PubMedCrossRef Sureda A, Constans M, Iriondo A, et al. Prognostic factors affecting long-term outcome after stem cell transplantation in Hodgkin’s lymphoma autografted after a first relapse. Ann Oncol. 2005;16(4):625–33.PubMedCrossRef
11.
Zurück zum Zitat Sirohi B, Cunningham D, Powles R, et al. Long-term outcome of autologous stem-cell transplantation in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Ann Oncol. 2008;19(7):1312–9.PubMedCrossRef Sirohi B, Cunningham D, Powles R, et al. Long-term outcome of autologous stem-cell transplantation in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Ann Oncol. 2008;19(7):1312–9.PubMedCrossRef
12.
Zurück zum Zitat Josting A, Muller H, Borchmann P, et al. Dose intensity of chemotherapy in patients with relapsed Hodgkin’s lymphoma. J Clin Oncol. 2010;28(34):5074–80.PubMedCrossRef Josting A, Muller H, Borchmann P, et al. Dose intensity of chemotherapy in patients with relapsed Hodgkin’s lymphoma. J Clin Oncol. 2010;28(34):5074–80.PubMedCrossRef
13.
Zurück zum Zitat Bierman PJ, Lynch JC, Bociek RG, et al. The International Prognostic Factors Project score for advanced Hodgkin’s disease is useful for predicting outcome of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Ann Oncol. 2002;13(9):1370–7.PubMedCrossRef Bierman PJ, Lynch JC, Bociek RG, et al. The International Prognostic Factors Project score for advanced Hodgkin’s disease is useful for predicting outcome of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Ann Oncol. 2002;13(9):1370–7.PubMedCrossRef
14.
Zurück zum Zitat Jabbour E, Hosing C, Ayers G, et al. Pretransplant positive positron emission tomography/gallium scans predict poor outcome in patients with recurrent/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. Cancer. 2007;109(12):2481–9.PubMedCrossRef Jabbour E, Hosing C, Ayers G, et al. Pretransplant positive positron emission tomography/gallium scans predict poor outcome in patients with recurrent/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. Cancer. 2007;109(12):2481–9.PubMedCrossRef
15.
Zurück zum Zitat Moskowitz AJ, Yahalom J, Kewalramani T, et al. Pretransplantation functional imaging predicts outcome following autologous stem cell transplantation for relapsed and refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. Blood. 2010;116(23):4934–7.PubMedCrossRef Moskowitz AJ, Yahalom J, Kewalramani T, et al. Pretransplantation functional imaging predicts outcome following autologous stem cell transplantation for relapsed and refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. Blood. 2010;116(23):4934–7.PubMedCrossRef
16.
Zurück zum Zitat Cocorocchio E, Peccatori F, Vanazzi A, et al. High-dose chemotherapy in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma patients: a reappraisal of prognostic factors. Hematol Oncol. 2013;31(1):34–40.PubMedCrossRef Cocorocchio E, Peccatori F, Vanazzi A, et al. High-dose chemotherapy in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma patients: a reappraisal of prognostic factors. Hematol Oncol. 2013;31(1):34–40.PubMedCrossRef
17.
Zurück zum Zitat Moskowitz CH, Yahalom J, Zelenetz AD et al. High-dose chemo-radiotherapy for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and the significance of pre-transplant functional imaging. Br J Haematol;148(6):890–7. Moskowitz CH, Yahalom J, Zelenetz AD et al. High-dose chemo-radiotherapy for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and the significance of pre-transplant functional imaging. Br J Haematol;148(6):890–7.
18.
Zurück zum Zitat Devillier R, Coso D, Castagna L, et al. Positron emission tomography response at the time of autologous stem cell transplantation predicts outcome of patients with relapsed and/or refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma responding to prior salvage therapy. Haematologica. 2012;97(7):1073–9.PubMedCrossRef Devillier R, Coso D, Castagna L, et al. Positron emission tomography response at the time of autologous stem cell transplantation predicts outcome of patients with relapsed and/or refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma responding to prior salvage therapy. Haematologica. 2012;97(7):1073–9.PubMedCrossRef
19.
Zurück zum Zitat Cheson BD, Horning SJ, Coiffier B, et al. Report of an international workshop to standardize response criteria for non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. NCI Sponsored International Working Group. J Clin Oncol. 1999;17(4):1244.PubMed Cheson BD, Horning SJ, Coiffier B, et al. Report of an international workshop to standardize response criteria for non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. NCI Sponsored International Working Group. J Clin Oncol. 1999;17(4):1244.PubMed
20.
Zurück zum Zitat Ferme C, Mounier N, Divine M, et al. Intensive salvage therapy with high-dose chemotherapy for patients with advanced Hodgkin’s disease in relapse or failure after initial chemotherapy: results of the Groupe d’Etudes des Lymphomes de l’Adulte H89 Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2002;20(2):467–75.PubMedCrossRef Ferme C, Mounier N, Divine M, et al. Intensive salvage therapy with high-dose chemotherapy for patients with advanced Hodgkin’s disease in relapse or failure after initial chemotherapy: results of the Groupe d’Etudes des Lymphomes de l’Adulte H89 Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2002;20(2):467–75.PubMedCrossRef
21.
Zurück zum Zitat Forrest DL, Hogge DE, Nevill TJ, et al. High-dose therapy and autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation does not increase the risk of second neoplasms for patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma: a comparison of conventional therapy alone versus conventional therapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23(31):7994–8002.PubMedCrossRef Forrest DL, Hogge DE, Nevill TJ, et al. High-dose therapy and autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation does not increase the risk of second neoplasms for patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma: a comparison of conventional therapy alone versus conventional therapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23(31):7994–8002.PubMedCrossRef
22.
Zurück zum Zitat Goodman KA, Riedel E, Serrano V, et al. Long-term effects of high-dose chemotherapy and radiation for relapsed and refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26(32):5240–7.PubMedCrossRef Goodman KA, Riedel E, Serrano V, et al. Long-term effects of high-dose chemotherapy and radiation for relapsed and refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26(32):5240–7.PubMedCrossRef
23.
Zurück zum Zitat Hasenclever D, Diehl V. A prognostic score for advanced Hodgkin’s disease. International Prognostic Factors Project on Advanced Hodgkin’s Disease. N Engl J Med. 1998;339(21):1506–14.PubMedCrossRef Hasenclever D, Diehl V. A prognostic score for advanced Hodgkin’s disease. International Prognostic Factors Project on Advanced Hodgkin’s Disease. N Engl J Med. 1998;339(21):1506–14.PubMedCrossRef
24.
Zurück zum Zitat Puig N, Pintilie M, Seshadri T, et al. Different response to salvage chemotherapy but similar post-transplant outcomes in patients with relapsed and refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Haematologica. 2010;95(9):1496–502.PubMedCrossRef Puig N, Pintilie M, Seshadri T, et al. Different response to salvage chemotherapy but similar post-transplant outcomes in patients with relapsed and refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Haematologica. 2010;95(9):1496–502.PubMedCrossRef
25.
Zurück zum Zitat Josting A, Rudolph C, Mapara M, et al. Cologne high-dose sequential chemotherapy in relapsed and refractory Hodgkin lymphoma: results of a large multicenter study of the German Hodgkin Lymphoma Study Group (GHSG). Ann Oncol. 2005;16(1):116–23.PubMedCrossRef Josting A, Rudolph C, Mapara M, et al. Cologne high-dose sequential chemotherapy in relapsed and refractory Hodgkin lymphoma: results of a large multicenter study of the German Hodgkin Lymphoma Study Group (GHSG). Ann Oncol. 2005;16(1):116–23.PubMedCrossRef
26.
Zurück zum Zitat Stover DG, Reddy VK, Shyr Y, et al. Long-term impact of prior rituximab therapy and early lymphocyte recovery on auto-SCT outcome for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2012;47(1):82–7.CrossRef Stover DG, Reddy VK, Shyr Y, et al. Long-term impact of prior rituximab therapy and early lymphocyte recovery on auto-SCT outcome for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2012;47(1):82–7.CrossRef
27.
Zurück zum Zitat Porrata LF, Inwards DJ, Micallef IN, et al. Early lymphocyte recovery post-autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is associated with better survival in Hodgkin’s disease. Br J Haematol. 2002;117(3):629–33.PubMedCrossRef Porrata LF, Inwards DJ, Micallef IN, et al. Early lymphocyte recovery post-autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is associated with better survival in Hodgkin’s disease. Br J Haematol. 2002;117(3):629–33.PubMedCrossRef
28.
Zurück zum Zitat Gordan LN, Sugrue MW, Lynch JW, et al. Correlation of early lymphocyte recovery and progression-free survival after autologous stem-cell transplant in patients with Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2003;31(11):1009–13.CrossRef Gordan LN, Sugrue MW, Lynch JW, et al. Correlation of early lymphocyte recovery and progression-free survival after autologous stem-cell transplant in patients with Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2003;31(11):1009–13.CrossRef
29.
Zurück zum Zitat Nieto Y, Popat U, Anderlini P, et al. Autologous stem cell transplantation for refractory or poor-risk relapsed Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: effect of the specific high-dose chemotherapy regimen on outcome. Biol Blood Marrow Transpl. 2013;19(3):410–7.CrossRef Nieto Y, Popat U, Anderlini P, et al. Autologous stem cell transplantation for refractory or poor-risk relapsed Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: effect of the specific high-dose chemotherapy regimen on outcome. Biol Blood Marrow Transpl. 2013;19(3):410–7.CrossRef
30.
Zurück zum Zitat Wheeler C, Eickhoff C, Elias A, et al. High-dose cyclophosphamide, carmustine, and etoposide with autologous transplantation in Hodgkin’s disease: a prognostic model for treatment outcomes. Biol Blood Marrow Transpl. 1997;3(2):98–106. Wheeler C, Eickhoff C, Elias A, et al. High-dose cyclophosphamide, carmustine, and etoposide with autologous transplantation in Hodgkin’s disease: a prognostic model for treatment outcomes. Biol Blood Marrow Transpl. 1997;3(2):98–106.
31.
Zurück zum Zitat Horning SJ, Chao NJ, Negrin RS, et al. High-dose therapy and autologous hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation for recurrent or refractory Hodgkin’s disease: analysis of the Stanford University results and prognostic indices. Blood. 1997;89(3):801–13.PubMed Horning SJ, Chao NJ, Negrin RS, et al. High-dose therapy and autologous hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation for recurrent or refractory Hodgkin’s disease: analysis of the Stanford University results and prognostic indices. Blood. 1997;89(3):801–13.PubMed
32.
Zurück zum Zitat Stiff PJ, Unger JM, Forman SJ, et al. The value of augmented preparative regimens combined with an autologous bone marrow transplant for the management of relapsed or refractory Hodgkin disease: a Southwest Oncology Group phase II trial. Biol Blood Marrow Transpl. 2003;9(8):529–39.CrossRef Stiff PJ, Unger JM, Forman SJ, et al. The value of augmented preparative regimens combined with an autologous bone marrow transplant for the management of relapsed or refractory Hodgkin disease: a Southwest Oncology Group phase II trial. Biol Blood Marrow Transpl. 2003;9(8):529–39.CrossRef
Metadaten
Titel
Prognostic factors and long-term outcome of autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation following a uniform-modified BEAM-conditioning regimen for patients with refractory or relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma: a single-center experience
verfasst von
Anna Czyz
Anna Lojko-Dankowska
Dominik Dytfeld
Adam Nowicki
Lidia Gil
Magdalena Matuszak
Maria Kozlowska-Skrzypczak
Maciej Kazmierczak
Ewa Bembnista
Mieczysław Komarnicki
Publikationsdatum
01.09.2013
Verlag
Springer US
Erschienen in
Medical Oncology / Ausgabe 3/2013
Print ISSN: 1357-0560
Elektronische ISSN: 1559-131X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-013-0611-y

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 3/2013

Medical Oncology 3/2013 Zur Ausgabe

Adjuvante Immuntherapie verlängert Leben bei RCC

25.04.2024 Nierenkarzinom Nachrichten

Nun gibt es auch Resultate zum Gesamtüberleben: Eine adjuvante Pembrolizumab-Therapie konnte in einer Phase-3-Studie das Leben von Menschen mit Nierenzellkarzinom deutlich verlängern. Die Sterberate war im Vergleich zu Placebo um 38% geringer.

Alectinib verbessert krankheitsfreies Überleben bei ALK-positivem NSCLC

25.04.2024 NSCLC Nachrichten

Das Risiko für Rezidiv oder Tod von Patienten und Patientinnen mit reseziertem ALK-positivem NSCLC ist unter einer adjuvanten Therapie mit dem Tyrosinkinase-Inhibitor Alectinib signifikant geringer als unter platinbasierter Chemotherapie.

Bei Senioren mit Prostatakarzinom auf Anämie achten!

24.04.2024 DGIM 2024 Nachrichten

Patienten, die zur Behandlung ihres Prostatakarzinoms eine Androgendeprivationstherapie erhalten, entwickeln nicht selten eine Anämie. Wer ältere Patienten internistisch mitbetreut, sollte auf diese Nebenwirkung achten.

ICI-Therapie in der Schwangerschaft wird gut toleriert

Müssen sich Schwangere einer Krebstherapie unterziehen, rufen Immuncheckpointinhibitoren offenbar nicht mehr unerwünschte Wirkungen hervor als andere Mittel gegen Krebs.

Update Onkologie

Bestellen Sie unseren Fach-Newsletter und bleiben Sie gut informiert.