Original article Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in mantle cell lymphoma

Background: Patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) have in general, lower response rates and overall survival (OS) than those with other B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. The role of hemato-poietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in MCL is unclear. Hence we decided to study the clinical course of patients who received autologous and allogeneic HSCT for MCL. Methods: Ninety-seven patients, (80 patients-autologous; 17 patients-allogeneic) who received a HSCT for mantle cell lymphoma were included in the study. Results: The complete response rates at day 100 between the two groups were similar (73 % vs. 62%). Day-100 mortality was higher in the allogeneic HSCT group (19 % vs. 0%) (P < 0.01). The estimated 5-year relapse rates, 5-year event-free survival (EFS) and 5-year OS among the allogeneic HSCT patients were 21%, 44 % and 49%, respectively, similar to 56%, 39 % and 47 % in the auto-logous group. Ten patients received HyperCVAD (hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone + high-dose methotrexate and cytarabine) ± rituximab prior to trans-plant. There have been no relapses or deaths amongst these patients at a median follow-up of 16 months. Conclusions: Patients treated with allogeneic HSCT had a lower relapse rate, but similar EFS and OS to autologous HSCT. Treatment of MCL with HyperCVAD ± rituximab followed by HSCT seems promising. Key words: mantle cell lymphoma, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, HyperCVA