Stem cell transplantation in Hodgkin lymphoma.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an effective treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. Treatment outcome is better among patients who demonstrate sensitivity to salvage chemotherapy. Approximately half of the patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation will be cured and sequential high-dose therapy has been proposed as a means of improving these results further. Lifelong medical surveillance is required following transplantation to monitor for late toxicity, including second malignancy. For young patients who relapse following transplantation, reduced-intensity allogeneic transplantation has shown encouraging response rates, while second autologous stem cell transplantation, radiotherapy and palliative single-agent chemotherapy are other options. For patients with multiple relapses and chemotherapy refractory disease, novel approaches are necessary.