OBJECTIVETo investigate the treatment outcomes of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as first-line treatment in patients with high risk lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) and compare the effect of different induction regimen on prognosis.

METHODSThirty LBL patients in complete remission received ASCT from 1996 to 2012 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS(1)Of the 30 patients, 25 were T-LBL and 5 B-LBL with a median age of 19(7-53) years old. Ratio of male to female is 23:7. Fourteen (46.7%) patients presented with bulky mediastinal masses and 15(50.0%) with bone marrow involvement. The distribution of stages was 2(6.7%), 5(16.7%) and 23 (76.6%)patients with stages II, III, and IV, respectively. The distribution according to age-adjusted international prognostic index (aaIPI) was 5(16.7%) patients in 1 score, 14(46.6%) in 2 scores and 11(36.7%) in 3 scores. (2)At a median follow-up of 32(range, 10-171) months, 17 patients were alive and 13 relapsed and died from LBL after ASCT. The estimated 5-year probability of DFS and OS was (50.4±10.7) % and (53.9 ±10.2)% for all the patients. (3)According to the treatment regimens before ASCT, the patients were divided into NHL-type group (n=12) and ALL-type group (n=18). In NHL-type group, 9 patients relapsed and died, the estimated 5-year probability of DFS and OS was (22.2 ±12.8) % and (33.3 ±13.6) %, respectively. Median DFS and OS time were 24 months and 36 months. In ALL-type group, 4 patients relapsed and died from lymphoma, the estimated 5-year probability of DFS and OS was (77.8 ± 9.8) % and (77.8 ± 9.8) %, respectively. Median DFS and OS time were not reached. For DFS and OS, ALL-type group were better than that of NHL-type group and the difference was significant (P=0.022 and P=0.049).

CONCLUSIONThe results showed that complete remission with intensive first-line ALL-type regimens and followed by ASCT consolidation may significantly improve long-term outcome for high risk LBL patients.