Immunologic Purging of Marrow Assessed by PCR before Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation for B-Cell Lymphoma

HIGH-dose ablative therapy with rescue of bone marrow function by autologous bone marrow transplantation has become widely used in patients with hematologic and solid tumors. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Although the infusion of autologous marrow provides sufficient hematopoietic stem cells, there is concern that occult clonogenic tumor cells in the infused marrow may contribute to relapse. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, bone marrow infiltration is common at the time of diagnosis and relapse. 11 , 12 Attempts have therefore been made to treat the bone marrow in vitro with immunologic and pharmacologic agents to purge it of lymphoma cells before reinfusing it into the patient. 2 , 4 , 13 , 14 It has become clear . . .