Role of Stem Cell Transplantation in the Treatment of Burkitt Lymphoma; A Systematic Review

Background: Burkitt lymphoma is a common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children. It has a rapid and aggressive clinical course with frequent involvement of bone marrow and central nervous system. Systemic chemotherapy is the mainstay of the treatment for this malignancy in children. In this systematic review, we discuss autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and its indications in pediatric patients with Burkitt lymphoma. Methods: The Medline (PubMed) database was searched using all keywords and phrases. The studies were identified by utilizing a combination of MeSH terms, such as Burkitt lymphoma, stem cell transplantation, autologous transplantation and allogeneic transplantation. Articles which were not published as full articles (conference proceedings excluded) were excluded. Relevant articles published during 2000-2015 were included. Results: 13 articles met the inclusion criteria and were discussed. Conclusion: Both autologous and allogeneic HSCT may improve survival in patients with BL. Autologous HSCT is mainly considered for patients with high-risk features of BL at presentation; however, allo-HSCT with non-myeloablative conditioning regimens are preferred for advanced stages and relapsed/refractory disease.