Total Body Irradiation Is Safe and Similarly Effective as Chemotherapy-Only Conditioning in Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a non-Hodgkin lymphoma with increasing incidence in elderly persons, males, and Caucasians, typically presents with advanced-stage disease (stage III/IV) and an aggressive clinical course [1,2]. Treatment intensification, including incorporation of high-dose cytarabine [3], maintenance rituximab [4,5], and consolidation with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) [6], have been associated with improved progression-free survival (PFS). Based on these findings, first-line treatment for patients with advanced-stage MCL who can tolerate aggressive therapy typically includes induction immunochemotherapy that incorporates high-dose cytarabine, ASCT in complete remission (CR) or partial remission (PR), and then maintenance rituximab [7].

Source: Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation - October 20, 2017 Category: Hematology Authors: Yolanda D. Tseng, Philip A. Stevenson, Ryan D. Cassaday, Andrew Cowan, Brian G. Till, Mazyar Shadman, Solomon A. Graf, Ralph Ermoian, Stephen D. Smith, Leona A. Holmberg, Oliver W. Press, Ajay K. Gopal Source Type: research