Value of frontline autologous stem-cell transplantation in peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

We read with interest the article presented by Mercadal et al. [1], a prospective trial of high-dose CHOP/E-SHAP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin and prednisone/ etoposide, methylprednisolone, cytarabine and cisplatin) regimen followed by autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) in high-risk peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), where the authors express their doubts about the contribution of ASCT in preventing relapse, on the basis of the absence of significant differences in the overall survival (OS) of chemosensitive patients transplanted versus those chemosensitive not transplanted. We would like to argue four aspects in this debate: