Relapse of Lymphoma After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: Management Strategies and Outcome.

The management of lymphoma which has relapsed after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is difficult. Therapeutic options may include donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI), withdrawal of immunosuppression, rituximab, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy and experimental treatments, but response and survival are uncertain.

We analyzed 72 patients with relapsed or progressive lymphoma after allogeneic HCT (1991-2007); 44 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (7 mantle cell, 5 indolent, 19 diffuse large B [DLBCL], and 13 T/NK cell) and 28 Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). At HCT, 62 patients (86%) were in remission (22 CR, 40 PR); nine (13%) had progressive disease and one had stable disease. Conditioning was myeloablative (n=17) or reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) (n=55). Relapse or progression occurred at a median of 99 days (0-1898 days; 25–75% 43–194 days). At relapse, 41 (57%) had extensive nodal disease and 56 (78%) had extranodal organ involvement. Management of relapse included: no therapy (n=5, 7%), reduction of immunosuppression (RIS) (n=58, 81%), chemotherapy alone (n=14, 19%), immunotherapy alone (n=20, 28%), combined chemo-immunotherapy (n=7, 10%) donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) (n=7, 10%), second allogeneic HCT (n=2, 3%), radiation (n=23, 32%) and other therapy (n=7, 8%). Twenty-four patients achieved a remission (15 CR, 9 PR) to the initial salvage therapy: RIS (n=13), combined chemo-immunotherapy(n=5), chemotherapy alone (n=2), radiation (n=3) or DLI (n=1). Overall, 40 (56%) patients responded (30 CR, 8 PR, 2 stable disease) with a median post-relapse overall survival of 28 months (range 0–147 months). At 3 years following relapse, 44% (95% CI, 32–56%) survive. Favorable prognostic factors for improved 3-year survival after relapse include stage I-III at relapse, single site of relapse and most importantly, later relapse (>100 days after HCT [3 year survival 53% vs. 36%, p=0.02]).

The overall prognosis of relapsed lymphoma after allogeneic HCT differs based upon extent of disease at relapse and time of relapse. Appropriate therapeutic approaches (RIS, combined chemo-immunotherapy, radiation or DLI) in these high risk, post transplant relapsed patients can yield promising outcome. Prospective study of post-relapse therapy to determine the most effective management strategies are warranted.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.