Autologous bone marrow transplantation in Hodgkin's disease

The outcome of advanced Hodgkin's disease has improved since the use of MOPP and ABVD. However 50% of these patients will relapse. Conventional salvage therapy can yield a complete response rate of 50%. However, only 5 to 30 percent can expect to be cured. Autologous bone marrow (ABMT) in reported publications can reach 50 to 80% remission rate in refractory patients with a disease free survival of 40 to 80%. Adverse prognostic factors are: tumor burden, number of prior chemotherapies, response to latest therapy and performance status. At the present time, ABMT is discussed in relapse of poor prognosis with initially stage I to IIIA. Twenty-six patients underwent ABMT at Saint-Louis Hospital. Fifteen were sensitive relapses of poor prognosis, 11 initially refractory disease. After ABMT, 19 were in complete remission including 14 relapses. Disease free survival was 80% for relapsing patients, again 50% for refractory patients (P = 0.001). ABMT should be a tool for refractory patients and relapses of poor prognosis.