Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to review retrospectively our results of double high-dose therapy with DICEP (dose-intensified cyclophosphamide 5.25 g/m2, etoposide 1.05 g/m2, and cisplatin 105 mg/m2) re-induction followed by high dose melphalan 200 mg/m2 (HDM) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for 73 consecutive patients with relapsed (n = 43) or refractory (n = 30) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) treated between June 1995 and November 2009. DICEP chemotherapy resulted in successful stem cell mobilization in 71 patients (97%), with a median CD34 + cell collection of 15.6 × 106/kg. With a median follow-up of 56 months post-DICEP, the 5-year progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 61% [95%CI = 49–72%] and 80% [95%CI = 69–89%], respectively. The 5-year PFS was 65% vs. 30% for DICEP responders vs. nonresponders (logrank p = 0.003) and 89% for International Prognostic Score (IPS) = 0–1, 56% for IPS = 2–3, and 24% for IPS = 4–7 (logrank p < 0.001). Response to DICEP and IPS at relapse were the only two factors that independently predicted PFS and OS in multivariate analyses. Treatment-related mortality was 1%. In conclusion, DICEP-HDM/ASCT is well tolerated double high-dose therapy associated with excellent stem cell mobilization and favorable PFS and OS outcomes for relapsed as well as primary refractory HL.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank all our colleagues in Calgary and surrounding areas for patient referral and excellent patient care following ASCT. Special thanks to Jan McLaughlin for data management, without which this study could not have taken place.
Potential conflict of interest:
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