Reduced intensity conditioning with a regimen including rituximab following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation is linked with decreased graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and better overall survival in people with B cell lymphoid malignancies, according to a retrospective analysis involving 94 individuals.

All participants received reduced intensity conditioning--33 via fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) and GVHD prophylaxis with a calcineurin inhibitor and mini-methotrexate, and 61 using fludarabine and busulfan (FluBu) and GVHD prophylaxis with a calcineurin inhibitor and mycophenolate mofetil. Among the results:

• 2-year overall survival was 73% in those receiving FCR, vs 54% in the FluBu group.

• The 2-year incidence of chronic GVHD was 24% in the FCR group, vs 52% in those receiving FluBu.

• There was no difference in rate of relapse/progression or acute graft-versus-host disease.

Citation: Kennedy V, Savani B, Greer J, et al. Reduced intensity conditioning with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab is associated with improved outcomes compared to fludarabine and busulfan following allogeneic stem cell transplantation for b-cell malignancies. [Published online ahead of print July 1, 2016]. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. doi:10.1016/j.bbmt.2016.06.029.