Myelosuppression After Radiation Therapy in Patients With and Without Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation: A Retrospective Observational Study

Abstract

Background/aim: Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) after high-dose chemotherapy is used to treat relapsed malignant lymphomas. Radiation therapy (RT) is applied after ASCT. We compared the incidence of myelosuppression after RT with and without autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (auto-PBSCT).

Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed 20 patients with malignant lymphomas who received RT, six of whom underwent auto-PBSCT. Univariate analysis using Pearson's Chi-squared test and multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards regression model were performed to determine correlations between the development of grade two or more leukopenia and clinical factors.

Results: Among patients with auto-PBSCT, grade two or more leukopenia occurred in five. The incidence of grade two or more leukopenia was significantly higher in patients with auto-PBSCT than in those without (p=0.014).

Conclusion: Hematopoietic functions after auto-PBSCT may be more vulnerable to RT than normal hematopoietic functions.

Keywords: Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; high-dose chemotherapy; leukopenia; myelosuppression; thrombocytopenia.