Linfoma no-Hodgkin. Avances en el trasplante autólogo de células madre: Revisión crítica

The non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) are a heterogeneous group of lymphoid neoplasms that collectively rank fifth in cancer incidence and mortality and the trend of this disease is to increase. In the United States of America of 53 900 new cases and 24 400 deaths are estimated in 2002 (1) While patients with aggressive lymphomas can frequently be cured, those with indolent lymphomas, despite a long average survival, have been more difficult to cure. Results indicate that, at least, 40 % to 60 % of patients with NHL eitherfail to achieve a complete remission (CR) or relapse after receiving standard front line therapy. Therefore, the necessity of better treatments is real, particularly in those patients with advanced disease. Data in the field of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in both groups of patients will be reviewed.