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Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for treatment of primary CNS lymphoma: single‐centre experience and literature review
Author(s) -
Bojic Marija,
Berghoff Anna S.,
Troch Marlene,
Agis Hermine,
Sperr Wolfgang R.,
Widhalm Georg,
Wöhrer Adelheid,
Kalhs Peter,
Preusser Matthias,
Rabitsch Werner
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/ejh.12482
Subject(s) - medicine , thiotepa , primary central nervous system lymphoma , carmustine , oncology , chemotherapy , methotrexate , tolerability , autologous stem cell transplantation , salvage therapy , lymphoma , hematopoietic stem cell transplantation , transplantation , surgery , adverse effect , cyclophosphamide
Primary central nervous system lymphoma ( PCNSL ) is a rare and malignant tumour type. Established treatment approaches include high‐dose methotrexate ( HD ‐ MTX )‐based chemotherapy and whole‐brain radiotherapy ( WBRT ). WBRT is associated with significant neurotoxicity and autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation ( ASCT ) has been proposed as an alternative treatment – either in the 1st line setting after HD ‐ MTX ‐based chemotherapy or as salvage treatment for relapsed/refractory PCNSL . We here report our single‐centre experience with five PCNSL patients, who had achieved an objective response after a high‐dose methotrexate‐based induction therapy and consecutively received a high‐dose chemotherapy, consisting of carmustine and thiotepa, followed by ASCT . We also provide a literature review on ASCL for PCNSL . Our data, with three of five patients in continuous complete remission and four of five patients alive after a median follow‐up time of 8 months, as well as previously published results, show that ASCT is a safe treatment option that is able to induce tumour remissions in patients with PCNSL . However, controlled trials are needed to compare the long‐term efficacy and tolerability of ASCT with other treatment approaches and also to establish the optimal sequence of treatment regimens in PCNSL patients.