BeEAM (Bendamustine, Etoposide, Cytarabine, Melphalan) Versus CEAM (Lomustine, Etoposide, Cytarabine, Melphalan) as Conditioning Regimen before Autologous Haematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Lymphoma Patients.

[PURPOSE] The conditioning regimen is one of the important factors of Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and is the most significant therapeutic option for lymphoma patients. Selecting the most appropriate preparative regimen can help minimize transplant-related toxicity, enhance survival outcomes, and improve quality of life following ASCT. This study aims to evaluate the differences in outcomes and toxicities between these two regimens for lymphoma patients undergoing ASCT at Taleghani Bone Marrow Transplantation Center.

[METHODS] This retrospective cohort study utilized registry data from Taleghani Hospital, evaluating 21 patients treated with BeEAM and 42 with LEAM. Conditioning-induced toxicities, including mucositis, engraftment, and outcomes, were analyzed and compared between the two groups.

[RESULTS] No significant differences were observed between these two groups regarding conditioning regimen toxicity (57.1% and 47.62% in BeEAM and LEAM, respectively,  value 0.476). Mucositis occurred more frequently in the BeEAM group (47.6% vs. 23.8%,  = 0.064), with a slightly higher need for total parenteral nutrition. Elevated creatinine levels were also more frequent in BeEAM (14.3% vs. 2.4%,  = 0.104), and all BeEAM patients required blood transfusions compared to 88.1% in the LEAM group ( = 0.16).

[CONCLUSIONS] Both BeEAM and LEAM regimens demonstrated manageable tolerability in this cohort. Although, according to our transplantation protocol, patients who fail to achieve complete remission are typically selected to receive bendamustine, this group did not show any statistically significant difference in toxicity compared to those receiving the LEAM regimen. Extended follow-up is recommended for additional insights into long-term outcomes.