Is the Optimal Timing First Complete Remission for Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma?

Abstract

Aim: Outcome for most patients with peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) is poor, with low response rates and short durations of remission. We aimto analyze the outcome of PTCL patients who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) at our center and we researched whether firstcomplete remission (CR) was the optimal timing for ASCT in patients with PTCL.Materials and Methods: The data of PTCL patients who underwent ASCT between January 2010 and December 2020 at our center wereretrospectively analyzed.Results: Twenty-five patients with PTCL underwent ASCT. The median ASCT age was 44 years (range: 19-68). 68% of the patients were performedupfront ASCT after the first CR; 32% of the patients underwent ASCT after relapse or refractory (R/R) disease. The median follow-up time fromdiagnosis was 40 months (13-144 months). The five-year PFS and OS were 50.8% and 55.7%, respectively. Five-year OS was 82.4% in the up-frontASCT group, while the five-year OS was 15.6% in the R/R patients (p=0.019). The median OS was 25 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 0-50.4]in patients who had CR2, while it was 13 months (95% CI: 0-35) in patients who had PR before ASCT (p=0.03). According to subtypes of PTCL, OSand PFS were not statistically different in all groups (p=0.96 and p=0.79, respectively).Conclusion: Even the prognosis is poor in patients with PTCL, Overall survival was significantly longer among the upfront ASCT group. Patientsshould be consolidated with ASCT in the first CR, and relapse should not be waited to perform ASCT.