Metzner B, Pott C, Müller TH, et al. - Researchers assessed long-term results as well as potential curative influence of ASCT in FL, particularly after HDT with the BEAM protocol (BCNU, etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan). A total of 76 patients with FL who received treatment with HDT and ASCT were included. Following first-line ASCT (n=20), 10-year overall survival, progression-free survival and freedom from progression (FFP) were estimated to be 80%, 60% and 69%; such estimates following second-line ASCT (n=48, following BEAM) were 66%, 38% and 41% and following third/fourth-line ASCT (n=8) were 33%, 25% and 25%, respectively. Treatment line and FLIPI (Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index) were revealed as prognostic factors for FFP. Overall, findings indicate that ASCT (including HDT with BEAM in second treatment line) can confer sustained long-term clinical and molecular complete remissions up to 27 years, and this suggests that ASCT has a potential curative impact in FL.