High-Dose Therapy and Autologous Peripheral-Blood Stem-Cell Transplantation As Salvage Treatment for HIV-Associated Lymphoma in Patients Receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

High-dose therapy (HDT) and peripheral-blood stem-cell transplantation (PBSCT) in HIV-associated lymphoma (HIV-Ly) has been recently reported in selected patients. We describe the results of a multi-institutional program of HDT and PBSCT as salvage therapy in HIV-Ly responsive to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in unselected patients. Patients with resistant or relapsed HIV-Ly after first-line chemotherapy (CT) underwent PBSC collection after a course of second-line CT or cyclophosphamide and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Patients with chemotherapy-sensitive disease received carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan (BEAM regimen) and PBSC reinfusion. Effective HAART was maintained during the entire program. Sixteen consecutive patients entered the program. Adequate collection of PBSC was obtained in 80% of patients (median CD34+ cells 6.8 x 106/kg). Three patients had early progression. Ten patients (62%) received PBSCT with prompt engraftment in all patients (neutrophils and platelet engraftment after a median of 10 days [range, 8 to 10 days] and 13 days [range, 8 to 18 days], respectively). No patients died as a result of opportunistic or other infections or treatment-related complications. Eight of nine assessable patients achieved complete remission (one patient after radiotherapy for residual disease) and one patient achieved partial remission. Two patients experienced relapse and died at +10 and +14 months. Six patients are alive and disease free at a median of 8 months after transplantation. Our data confirm that HDT plus PBSCT is feasible and active as salvage therapy in HIV-Ly on a multi-institutional basis and in unselected HAART-responding patients. HIV infection should no longer preclude the opportunity of HDT in patients with lymphoma.