Etoposide induces more severe mucositis than CY when added to TBI as conditioning in allograft recipients receiving CsA and MTX

Fractionated TBI and etoposide (FTBI–VP16) conditioning is effective therapy for patients receiving allogeneic stem cell transplants for ALL. One of the major dose-limiting toxicities with this regimen is mucositis although its effect on patients and hospital resources is not well described. To determine the severity of mucositis (WHO grade 3–4) experienced and assess resource utilisation, we compared the non-haematological toxicities of 38 patients receiving FTBI–VP16 with 104 patients receiving CY and TBI (CYTBI). FTBI–VP16 patients were more likely to develop severe mucositis (odds ratio (OR) 6.0 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36, 54.42), P