Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in children and adolescents with non-Hodgkin lymphoma

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect and safety of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) in children and adolescents with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Ten patients with NHL were analyzed retrospectively. In all the patients, lymph node enlargement was most frequently detected. Patients with a mediastinal mass presented with a cough, palpitation and shortness of breath. Extranodal patients presented with abdominal pain, inability to walk and vaginal bleeding. All patients underwent APBSCT with conditioning regimens BEAM or BuCy. Among them, four patients with B-cell NHL received rituximab in addition to the conditioning regimen. Hematopoietic reconstitution was observed in all patients. Severe toxicity and transplant-related mortality were not observed. Prior to APBSCT, nine patients with a status of complete response (CR) and CR unconfirmed achieved continuing complete remission. Only one patient with partial response succumbed to progressive disease. APBSCT in children and adolescents with NHL is a safe, convenient and efficient treatment. The BEAM conditioning regimen was shown to be effective and tolerable for children and adolescents with NHL. Rituximab is a safe agent in the transplantation. The CR status at the time of transplantation demonstrated a higher survival rate.