Outcome of high-dose therapy and autologous transplantation in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma based on the presence of tumor in the marrow or infused hematopoietic harvest.

Abstract

The observation that survival was significantly better in the groups of patients who received tumor-negative harvests and worse for patients who received minimally contaminated harvests suggests that tumor cells, even at minimal levels, reinfused in the transplanted harvest are responsible for progression in a proportion of patients who achieve a CR following HDT, although other biologic characteristics of the tumor could also be important. A relatively good outcome can be achieved with HDT and PSCT, even in patients with a significant marrow tumor burden.