High-dose chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for relapsed or refractory diffuse large-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The use of high-dose chemotherapy and transplantation for chemotherapy sensitive relapsed diffuse large-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is now the gold standard for patients who are candidates for such therapy. Recent data also demonstrates the relative effectiveness of this approach for patients who are induction failures but are continuing to respond to conventional therapy at the time of transplantation. Newer approaches such as the use of novel agents to modify the transplant regimen, newer cytokines, or alternative sources of hematopoietic stem cells need to be tested in order to improve the outcome in patients with chemotherapy resistant disease.