Successful salvage treatment for relapse after autologous stem cell transplantation in a patient with Hodgkin's disease – a case report

Abstract

 We report a patient who relapsed 12 months after undergoing high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation for refractory Hodgkin's disease, nodular sclerosis. The patient received sequential single-dose chemotherapy consisting of 140 mg/m² epirubicin, 1.4 mg/m² vincristine, and 50 mg/m² prednisole on day 1, followed by 4000 mg/m² cyclophosphamide on day 15 and 2000 mg/m² etoposide on day 30. This regimen was given twice, predominantly on an outpatient basis without major toxicity. The patient reached a complete remission and has remained free of disease after an observation period of 48 months. Single-dose sequential treatment should be considered for refractory Hodgkin's disease, even for relapse after high-dose chemotherapy, as escalated single doses of cytostatic agents may overcome drug resistance.