Cancer Treatment Today

Whether autologous stem cell transplantation si helpful with secondary CNS involvement by lymphoma after a complete response is not known and is subject to clinical trials, such as: High Dose Chemotherapy and Stem Cell Transplant for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma or Central Nervous System (CNS) Lymphoma, NCT01182415 Current standard treatments for lymphoma involving the central nervous system include chemotherapy or whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT). Previous research has shown that a stem cell transplant of a patient’s own cells (autologous stem cell transplant) may be more effective for some patients with lymphoma involving the CNS. In previous research using autologous stem cell transplants for lymphoma involving the CNS, a conditioning regimen consisting of the drugs thiotepa, busulfan, and cyclophosphamide (TCE) was used. These drugs have been shown to enter the nervous system, but the actual results of autologous stem cell transplantation is not yet known.
2. With multiple organs involved, would an autologous stem cell transplant be effective for this cancer?
No – not known.

Peñalver FJ, Sancho JM, de la Fuente A, et al. Guidelines for diagnosis, prevention and management of central nervous system involvement in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients by the Spanish Lymphoma Group (GELTAMO). Haematologica. 2017;102(2):235–245.
V. De Wilde, MD, et al, BHS guidelines for primary central nervous system lymphoma. (Belg J Hematol 2016;7(2):69-78)

Korfel A, Fischer L, Mohle R, et al. Systemic and intrathecal
chemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell aggressive lymphomas; a potentially curative approach? Ann Oncol. 2011;22(suppl 4). [Abstract 258].

NCCN, B-cell lymphoma 2019