Comparison of Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant and Autologous Stem Cell Transplant in Refractory or Relapsed Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma

Importance

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is an advisable option for refractory or relapsed peripheral T-cell lymphoma (R/R-PTCL), but whether allogeneic HSCT or autologous HSCT is more beneficial is unknown.

Objective

To compare the effectiveness and safety of allogeneic HSCT vs autologous HSCT in patients with R/R-PTCL.

Data Sources

A systematic search of the PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases with the search itemsrefractory or relapsed peripheral T-cell lymphoma,ASCT/autologous stem-cell transplantation,allo-HSCT/allogeneic stem-cell transplantation,therapeutic effect, andtreatmentwas conducted for articles published from January 12, 2001, to October 1, 2020.

Study Selection

After duplicate and irrelevant publications were discarded, 329 were ineligible according to the inclusion (clinical trials or retrospective studies with >10 samples) and exclusion criteria (articles without overall survival [OS], progression-free survival [PFS], and transplantation-related mortality [TRM]). Thirty trials were included in the meta-analysis. The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

Data on study design, individual characteristics, and outcomes were extracted. All statistics were pooled by applying a random-effects model.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The prespecified main outcomes were OS, PFS, and TRM.

Results

Of 6548 articles, data extracted from the 30 studies (including 880 patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT and 885 who underwent autologous HSCT) were included in this meta-analysis. In the allogeneic HSCT group, a 3-year OS of 50% (95% CI, 41%-60%) and PFS of 42% (95% CI, 35%-51%), a 5-year OS of 54% (95% CI, 47%-62%) and PFS of 48% (95% CI, 40%-56%), and a 3-year TRM of 32% (95% CI, 27%-37%) were observed. In the autologous HSCT group, a 3-year OS of 55% (95% CI, 48%-64%) and PFS of 41% (95% CI, 33%-51%), a 5-year OS of 53% (95% CI, 44%-64%) and PFS of 40% (95% CI, 24%-58%), and a 3-year TRM of 7% (95% CI, 2%-23%) were observed.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, OS and PFS were similar in the allogeneic HSCT and autologous HSCT groups; however, allogeneic HSCT was associated with specific survival benefits among patients with R/R-PTCL.