Long-term results of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) supported by hematopoietic circulating (ASCT) or bone marrow (BMT) stem cell autografting as first salvage treatment for refractory or relapsed Hodgkin’s lymphoma

7567 Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate with a long follow-up the efficacy of HDCT + ASCT or ABMT for refractory or relapsed HL. Methods: Data were collected from 99 pts who failed or relapsed after first-line CT± radiotherapy and were treated with HDCT+ASCT or ABMT between Oct 1984 and Dec 2003. Thirty-two pts had late relapse (CR≥12 months), 31 had early relapse (CR<12 months), while 36 had primary refractory (IF) HL.The main pts characteristics at relapse/progression were as follows: M/F: 50/49; median age 28 years; stage III-IV:54%; B symptoms: 33%; bulky disease 22%; extranodal ± nodal disease 54%; IPI≥3 39%. HDCT program consisted in a debulking phase with sequential high-dose chemotherapy (Cyclophosphamide 7gr/mq followed by ASC or BM harvest, Methotrexate 8 gr/mq+ Vincristine 1.4 mg/mq, VP16 2 gr/mq) in 71 cases; 3–4 courses of Ifosfamide (3gr/mq × 4 days)+ Vinorelbine (25mg/mq day 1+5) in 28 cases. Final myeloablative course was BEAM (63%), or high-dose Melphalan comb...