The Karolinska experience of autologous stem-cell transplantation for lymphoma: a population-based study of all 433 patients 1994–2016

BACKGROUND: Autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) is a common treatment for lymphoma but it has some mortality. METHODS: All 433 lymphoma patients who underwent ASCT for lymphoma at Karolinska Huddinge 1994–2016 were investigated, including CD34(+) cell amounts, medications, infectious and other complications, intensive care, longitudinal laboratory values, and secondary myeloid neoplasia. RESULTS: The 100-day non-relapse and overall mortalities were 5.6% and 7.2%. Stem-cell harvests < 5 million CD34(+) cells/kg correlated with inferior 100-day and long-term survival. Prior to conditioning (93% BEAM), elevated (both 3–9 and ≥ 10 mg/L) C-reactive protein (CRP) and creatinine, and low albumin (but not higher age) predicted inferior higher 100-day survival. Intravenous antibiotics were given to 97% (22% positive blood cultures) and parenteral nutrition to 89%. After 1 year, 86% had normalized hemoglobin. The 5-year risk for secondary myeloid neoplasia was 4.1%, associated with smaller harvests. CONCLUSIONS: Before starting conditioning, patients should have preferably harvested ≥ 5 million CD34(+) cells/kg and normal CRP, albumin, and creatinine. It appears safe to transplant patients ≥ 66 years. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s40164-019-0131-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.