The Use of Conventional Salvage Chemotherapy Before Dose-Intensive Cytotoxic Therapy and Autologous Transplantation for Aggressive-Histology Lymphoma: A Case for Re-Evaluation

Abstract

The use of CSCT to judge suitability for DIT and AHSCT in patients with aggressive-histology lymphoma who recur after primary chemotherapy is a widespread practice that excludes many NHL patients from this potentially curative therapy. Surprisingly, little direct evidence exists to suggest that CSCT used in this way is a useful strategy. On the other hand, it is clear that many of these patients undergoing DIT and AHSCT will not be cured using any currently available strategy or technique, and a method to identify such patients would be most helpful. CSCT may or may not be the best way to do so. This is an important question, but currently there are insufficient data to give us a definitive answer. Clinical trials are needed to resolve the issue. If the utility of CSCT is not validated, it should be abandoned. If it is validated, however, we may begin to address ways in which CSCT may be given more effectively.

Key Words:

• Lymphoma-recurrent
• conventional salvage chemotherapy
• dose-intensive therapy
• autotransplantation