Retrospective analysis of prognosticators in patients with relapsed Hodgkin's Lymphoma treated with autologous transplant: Results of a single center

Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL) is highly chemoresponsive, and majority of patients respond to therapy except for a small number which require high-dose therapy and stem cell rescue for salvage. We report the results of a single-center experience in 41 patients with relapsed HL treated with high-dose therapy at the time of relapse from the year 1989-2010. The 7-year OS for the group is 39.2 %; the median progression-free survival is 30.6 months. Univariate analysis identified refractory disease at transplant and extranodal involvement as important prognosticators. The 100-day mortality was 5 %. The most common cause for delayed mortality was disease progression. The incidence of secondary malignancy in the group was 2 %. Our results reinforce the significance of long-term follow up as late relapses are observed. Additionally, identifying biological prognosticators and implying them for treatment may improve the outcomes in poor-risk patients.