High-dose chemotherapy with frozen autologous marrow transplantation in patients with poor-prognosis tumors

Jpn J Clin Oncol. 1984 Dec:14 Suppl 1:553-61.

Abstract

One hundred and ninety patients with poor-prognosis tumors, mainly advanced solid cancers were treated with a first course of high-dose chemotherapy. One hundred nine of them received frozen autologous bone marrow transplantation (FABMT) a total of 160 times. Thirty-four of the 109 patients were given a second course, and five of the 34 received a third course followed by FABMT. Eighty-four patients (77%) showed subjective and/or objective remissions; however, 59 (54%) died from the original malignant tumor, 27 (23%) from profound acquired immune deficiency, and the remaining 18 patients are now in follow-up. A comparison between the patients who received the high-dose chemotherapy followed by FABMT and those who received the high-dose chemotherapy alone because of the absence of marked myelosuppression remains as a future subject for study. We experienced some important cases, in which FABMT played a decisive role in rescuing the marrow abrasion from toxicity of the anticancer drugs. We feel certain that FABMT can accelerate hemopoietic recovery in cancer patients after high-dose chemotherapy. We also conclude that FABMT is an interesting approach to provide hope to the poor-prognosis patients who have failed or respond to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, although FABMT is still undergoing clinical trial and only in specialized hospitals.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage*
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Freezing
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Prognosis
  • Transplantation, Autologous