Impact of preexisting CNS involvement on the outcome of bone marrow transplantation in adult hematologic malignancies.

PURPOSE: To determine the impact of prior or current CNS disease on the outcome of high-dose chemotherapy for patients with hematologic malignancies.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

In a 54-month period, 373 patients with hematologic malignancies underwent allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) or blood stem-cell transplantation using high-dose thiotepa, busulfan, and cyclophosphamide (TBC) as the preparative regimen. Four patients with active CNS disease at BMT and 20 patients with a history of prior CNS disease were identified. The outcomes of those with a history of CNS disease were compared with those of a matched control group.

RESULTS

Of four patients with active CNS disease at the time of BMT, two had CNS recurrences and one recurred in the bone marrow. One patient died of treatment-related toxicity. Four of 20 patients with prior CNS involvement currently remain free of disease. At 2 years, the disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 23% +/- 19%, and the DFS rate for the control group 39% +/- 24% (P = .053). An increased rate of treatment-related toxicity and especially grades II to IV CNS toxicity accounted for the poorer outcome of patients who had a history of CNS disease. Recurrence rates were not significantly different between the two groups. Prior radiation to the CNS correlated with CNS complications posttransplant (p = .01).

CONCLUSION

Consolidation with TBC and BMT can induce prolonged DFS in a proportion of patients with a history of CNS disease. Such patients are at increased risk for CNS complications that lead to an inferior overall outcome when compared with a control group.