Blood Graft and Outcome After Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients With Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

BACKGROUND: Autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) is a treatment option for patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). METHODS: In this prospective multicenter study, the effects of blood graft cellular content on hematologic recovery and outcome were analyzed in 17 PCNSL patients receiving auto-SCT upfront. RESULTS: The infused viable CD34(+) cell count > 1.7 × 10(6)/kg correlated with more rapid platelet engraftment (10 vs. 31 days, P = 0.027) and with early neutrophil recovery (day + 15) (5.4 vs. 1.6 × 10(9)/L, P = 0.047). A higher number of total collected CD34(+) cells > 3.3 × 10(6)/kg infused predicted worse 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) (33% vs. 100%, P = 0.028). In addition, CD3(+)CD8(+) T cells > 78 × 10(6)/kg in the infused graft impacted negatively on the 5-year PFS (0% vs. 88%, P = 0.016). CONCLUSION: The cellular composition of infused graft seems to impact on the hematologic recovery and PFS post-transplant. Further studies are needed to verify the optimal autograft cellular content in PCNSL.