Leona A. Holmberg, MD, PhD

High-dose myeloablative therapy with autologous or allogeneicstem cell rescue is an effective treatment strategy for non-Hodgkin’slymphoma (NHL), but NHL is much less likely to stay in remission afteran autologous transplant than after an allogeneic transplant. Thebenefit of undergoing an autologous transplant earlier in the course ofthe disease, especially for patients who present with intermediate orhigh scores on the International Prognostic Index of risk factors, is stillunclear. The addition of immunotherapy, biologic modifiers, andantibody therapy such as rituximab (Rituxan) or radiolabeled antibodyto the autologous transplant are approaches undergoing evaluation.Historically, there has been a high regimen-related mortality rateassociated with myeloablative allogeneic transplant that has made thisapproach a less appealing option for therapy. The use of nonmyeloablativeallogeneic transplants as treatment for NHL is less well studiedand remains to be defined.