Influence of fractionated total body irradiation on mucosal toxicity in intensified conditioning regimens for autologous bone marrow transplantation in pediatric cancer patients.

From April 1988 to March 1991 28 children with generalized solid tumors (N = 15) or hematologic malignancies (N = 13) received intensified myelotoxic regimens followed by autologous stem cell rescue (ABMT). These intensified regimens consisted of 12 Gy fractionated total body irradiation (FTBI) and 2 (or 3) cytotoxic drugs (group A, n = 19) or a combination of 3 cytotoxic drugs (group B, n = 9). FTBI-containing regimens produced more severe mucositis > = WHO grade 3 (p = 0.01) and a longer duration of severe mucositis. The mucositis had a median duration of 8 days (range 0-28) in group A compared with median 0 days (range 0-7) in group B (p < 0.01). Acute renal and liver toxicity were not different. The probability of overall survival at day +100 was 89% in all patients. In terms of long-term survival FTBI containing regimen did not prove superior: 5 out of 19 patients in group A and 6 out of 9 patients in group B have been survivors for a minimum of 3 years. In conclusion, severe gastrointestinal toxicity of such intensive regimens is avoidable if FTBI is omitted.