• Sebastian Kirschey, Thomas Flohr, Hans H Wolf, Norbert Frickhofen, Martin Gramatzki, Hartmut Link, Nadezda Basara, Norma Peter, Ralf G Meyer, Norbert Schmitz, Eckhart Weidmann, Andre Banat, Andrea Schulz, Karin Kolbe, Guenter Derigs, Matthias Theobald, and Georg Hess.
• Department of Haematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Medical School of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
• Br. J. Haematol. 2015 Mar 1; 168 (6): 824-34.

AbstractSalvage therapy followed by high-dose therapy (HDT) remains a mainstay for patients with relapsed lymphoma, however no optimal regimen has been defined. Here we report on the results of R-DexaBEAM (rituximab, dexamethasone, carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan) followed by HDT. Patients aged 18-65 years, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score 0-2, with relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) were eligible. R-Dexa-BEAM was given for two cycles followed by stem cell mobilization and HDT. Primary endpoint of the trial was progression-free-survival (PFS). One hundred and three patients were included: aggressive NHL (aNHL): diffuse large B-cell lymphoma 55, mantle cell lymphoma 7, follicular lymphoma (FL) grade 3: 5, indolent Lymphoma (iNHL): FL grade 1-2: 29, marginal zone lymphoma 6, Immunocytoma 1. The overall response rate after salvage therapy was 62% for aNHL and 78% for iNHL patients. 66% of patients with aNHL and 86% with iNHL underwent HDT. Treatment-related mortality for HDT was 1·3%. For aNHL patients, the median PFS was 0·83 years with 44% alive at the median follow-up of 7·3 years. Corresponding figures for iNHL were: median PFS 3·7 years and 72% alive after 8 years. The combination of rituximab with DexaBEAM followed by HDT resulted in high response rates and sustained remissions in responders. R-DexaBEAM followed by HDT can be considered a valid salvage option for NHL. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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