BACKGROUND High-dose
chemotherapy followed by autologous
stem cell transplantation (HDT/ASCT) plays a crucial role in the
therapy of patients with
lymphoma. This retrospective study aimed to analyze prognostic factors in patients undergoing HDT/ASCT for
lymphoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS We included patients with
lymphoma who underwent HDT/ASCT at our center. Time-to-event outcomes, including progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression analysis were performed to explore the prognostic value of different factors. RESULTS A total of 113 patients with
lymphoma were included. Patients with low
serum albumin levels (<37 g/L) before
transplantation had significantly lower PFS and OS (P<0.01).
Albumin levels before
transplantation significantly predicted early progression (progressed within 1 year) after
transplantation (AUC=0.706, P=0.003). Multivariate Cox analysis indicated that low
albumin level (hazard ratio [HR] 3.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.54-6.63; P=0.002) and age >60 years (HR 2.92, 95% CI 1.27-6.71; P=0.012) were independent risk factors for PFS. Total
protein <60 g/L was an independent risk factor for OS (HR 3.57, 95% CI 1.45-8.78; P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS Low
albumin level before
transplantation was an independent risk factor in patients with
lymphoma undergoing HDT/ASCT. Intense care and effective maintenance
therapy after
transplantation are required for patients with low
albumin levels.