Autologous stem cell transplantation for the treatment of hematological malignancies in the Clinical Center of Vojvodina

Abstract

Introduction. Autologous stem cell transplantation combined with high dose chemotherapy is an effective and safe approach in the treatment of different hematological malignancies. Nowadays, autologous stem cell transplantation represents a standard therapeutic option in the treatment of multiple myeloma, lymphomas and other hematological malignancies. Aim is to analyze the available medical data of patients with multiple myeloma, Hodgkin?s lymphoma, non-Hodgkin?s lymphoma acute myeloid and lymphoblastic leukemia, who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation, and to compare the results with published data from other similar studies. Material and Methods. A retrospective study included 90 patients with multiple myeloma, acute myeloid and lymphoblastic leukemia, non-Hodgkin?s and Hodgkin?s lymphoma who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation in the period from 2004 to August 2017. Results. In relation to the underlying disease, the distribution of the respondents was as follows: 39 patients had multiple myeloma, 25 non-Hodgkin?s lymphoma, 20 Hodgkin?s lymphoma and 6 had acute leukemia. 75 patients (89.3%) had the large volume apheresis procedure, while 9 patients (10.7%) had the conventional two-day apheresis procedure. The average number of the mononuclear cells in the apheresis product was 7,8x108/kg, and the number of the CD34 + cells was about 12,11x106 kg. After applying the conditioning regimen, depending on the underlying disease, neutrophils engraftment mainly occurred on the 11th while the platelet engraftment occurred on the 14th post-transplant day. Transplant-related mortality was low, and the mortality rate was 3.57%. Conclusion. Autologous stem cell transplantation is an efficient method of treatment for patients with he?matological malignancies. It is associated with a low rate of complications as well as low rate of transplant-related mortality.