[Crohn's disease and autologous hemapoietic cell transplantation: Guidelines from the Francophone Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (SFGM-TC)]. / Indications de l'autogreffe de cellules hématopoïétiques dans la Maladie de Crohn : recommandations de la Société francophone de greffe de moelle et de thérapie cellulaire.

Crohn's Disease (CD) is an auto-inflammatory disease, which may involve the entire gastro-intestinal tract. CD is diagnosed on several clinical, biological, endoscopic and histological criteria. First line therapy is based on oral or iv steroids. In case of steroids dependence or resistance, several types of immunosuppressive or immunomodulating therapies are available: classical antimetabolites (thiopurines or methotrexate) or monoclonal antibodies against TNFα, against interleukin 12/23 or against integrin. Nonetheless, Crohn's disease may remain active despite the use of several lines of therapy. In such cases, autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) is an effective therapeutic option in highly selected CD patients with specific criteria. The MATHEC-SFGM-TC Good Clinical Practice Guidelines (GCPG) were developed by a multidisciplinary group of experts including gastroenterologists, hematologists and members of the reference center for stem cell therapy in auto-immune diseases (MATHEC), including members of the French groupe d'étude thérapeutique des affections inflammatoires du tube digestif(GETAID) under the auspices of the French speaking Society of bone marrow transplantation and cellular therapy (SFGM-TC). The aim of the present guidelines is to define the eligibility criteria for CD patients when candidates to AHCT, the procedures for mobilization of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC), conditioning regimen and standardized follow-up after AHCT including monitoring of gastroenterological treatments during AHCT and thereafter throughout all follow-up.

Z-BeEAM (Ibritumomab tiuxetan, Bendamustine, Etoposide, Cytarabine, Melphalan) before autologous stem cell transplantation is safe and efficient for refractory large B-cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Refractory or relapsed large B-cells lymphoma are usually treated with a high dose chemotherapy regimen followed by an autolougous stem cells transplantation. BEAM (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan) or more recently Z-BEAM (ibritumomab tiuxetan and BEAM) are commonly used regimens, but recently carmustine availability became difficult. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and the safety of replacing carmustine by bendamustine in a new Z-BeEAM regimen (ibritumomab tiuxetan, bendamustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan) prior to autologous stem cell transplantation. FINDINGS: This study was a retrospective analyze of six patients, with a median age of 60, treated by Z-BeEAM before autologous stem cell transplantation. We did not put in evidence any additional toxicities compared to conventional induction chemotherapy. The main toxicities were mucositis (3 grade III among 6 patients), gastrointestinal (2 grade III vomiting and 2 grade III diarrhea) and neutropenia (6 grade IV). Engraftment was successfully achieved for all patients. At the time of analysis of this study all patients were alive and in complete response based on the PET-CT evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: BeEAM plus ibritumomab tiuxetan combined regimen before autologous stem cell transplantation is feasible and safe in aggressive relapsing large B-cell lymphoma.