Bone-marrow autotransplantation in man. Report of an international cooperative study

Bone-marrow autotransplantation consists of the administration of extremely high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation followed by "rescue" with autologous, cryopreserved, bone-marrow cells. This approach can produce responses unattainable with conventional doses of similar agents. Bone-marrow autotransplantation is increasingly being done. This report summarises data from 2570 patients receiving autotransplants at 43 centres worldwide for haematological malignancies and solid tumours; more than 50% of these transplants were done since 1984. Most transplants were performed for treatment of lymphoma, leukaemia, lung cancer, melanoma, neuroblastoma, and breast cancer. Preliminary analyses indicate favourable responses in some tumour types and provide a basis for future investigations.