Early immune recovery after autologous transplantation in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients: predictive factors and clinical significance

Limited data is available about the factors affecting early immune recovery or its clinical significance after autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT). We prospectively analyzed factors affecting early immune recovery and outcome among 72 non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients. Absolute lymphocyte count 15 d after auto-SCT (ALC-15)0.5x10(9)/L was associated with the use of plerixafor (p=0.004), the number of CD34(+) cells (p=0.015), and CD34(+) CD38(-) cells (p=0.005) in the grafts. ALC-150.5x10(9)/L was associated with improved overall survival (p=0.021). In patients with aggressive histology, ALC-150.5x10(9)/L was beneficial in regard to both progression-free survival (p=0.015) and overall survival (p=0.002). Early immune recovery seems to be important in transplanted patients with NHL and, therefore, an easy and affordable method for disease-related risk analysis. Patients with aggressive histology and slow immune recovery may need additional post-transplant treatment.