Fludarabine and Busulfan versus Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide, and Rituximab as Reduced-Intensity Conditioning for Allogeneic Transplantation in Follicular Lymphoma

Narendranath Epperla, Kwang Woo Ahn, Philippe Armand, Samantha Jaglowski, Sairah Ahmed, Vaishalee P. Kenkre, Bipin Savani, Madan Jagasia, Nirav N. Shah, Timothy S. Fenske, Anna Sureda, Sonali M. Smith, Mehdi Hamadani

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Large, multicenter studies comparing commonly used reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) approaches in follicular lymphoma (FL) have not been performed. Using the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research database, we report the outcomes of the 2 most commonly used RIC approaches, fludarabine and busulfan (Flu/Bu) versus fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) in FL patients. We evaluated 200 FL patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) who received RIC with either Flu/Bu (n = 98) or FCR (n = 102) during 2008 to 2014. All patients received peripheral blood grafts, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis was limited to calcineurin inhibitor–based approaches. Median follow-up of survivors in the Flu/Bu and FCR groups was 48 months and 46 months, respectively. On univariate analysis in the Flu/Bu and FCR groups, the 3-year rates of nonrelapse mortality (11% versus 11%, P =.94), relapse/progression (18% versus 15%, P =.54), progression-free survival (PFS) (71% versus 74%, P =.65), and overall survival (OS) (73% versus 81%, P =.18) were not significantly different. On multivariate analysis no difference was seen between the FCR and Flu/Bu cohorts in terms of grades II to IV (relative risk [RR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI],.59 to 1.93; P =.84) or grades III to IV (RR, 1.18; 95% CI,.47 to 2.99; P =.72) acute GVHD, nonrelapse mortality (RR,.83; 95% CI,.38 to 1.82; P =.64), relapse/progression (RR,.99; 95% CI,.49 to 1.98; P =.97), PFS (RR,.92; 95% CI,.55 to 1.54; P =.76), or OS (RR,.70; 95% CI,.40 to 1.23; P =.21) risk. However, RIC with FCR was associated with a significantly reduced chronic GVHD risk (RR,.52; 95% CI,.36 to.77; P =.001). RIC with either Flu/Bu or FCR in patients with FL undergoing allo-HCT provides excellent 3-year OS, with acceptable rates of nonrelapse mortality. FCR-based conditioning was associated with a lower risk of chronic GVHD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)78-85
Number of pages8
JournalBiology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Volume24
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2018

Keywords

  • Allogeneic HCT
  • FCR
  • Flu/Bu
  • Follicular lymphoma
  • Reduced-intensity conditioning

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology
  • Transplantation

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