Outcome of treatment after first relapse in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia initially treated by the LALA-94 trial.

Fifty-four percent of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who entered the LALA-94 trial experienced a first relapse. We examined the outcome of these 421 adult patients. One hundred and eighty-seven patients (44%) achieved a second complete remission (CR). The median disease-free survival (DFS) was 5.2 months with a 5-year DFS at 12%. Factors predicting a better outcome after relapse were any transplant performed in second CR (P<0.0001), a first CR duration >1 year (P=0.04) and platelet level >100 x 10(9)/l at relapse (P=0.04). Risk groups defined at diagnosis and treatment received in first CR did not influence the outcome after relapse. The best results were obtained in a subset of patients who were eligible for allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Geno-identical allogeneic SCT was performed in 55 patients, and 3 patients received donor lymphocyte infusions. Forty-four transplantations were performed from an unrelated donor (of which four were cord blood). We conclude that most adult patients with recurring ALL could not be rescued using current available therapies, although allogeneic SCT remains the best therapeutic option.     

Outcome of treatment in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: analysis of the LALA-94 trial.

PURPOSE: We analyzed the benefits of a risk-adapted postremission strategy in adult lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and re-evaluated stem-cell transplantation (SCT) for high-risk ALL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 922 adult patients entered onto the trial according to risk groups: standard-risk ALL (group 1), high-risk ALL (group 2), Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL (group 3), and CNS-positive ALL (group 4). All received a standard four-drug/4-week induction course. Patients from group 1 who achieved a complete remission (CR) after one course of induction therapy were randomly assigned between intensive and less intensive postremission chemotherapy, whereas those who achieved CR after salvage therapy were then included in group 2. Patients in groups 2, 3, and 4 with an HLA-identical sibling were assigned to allogeneic SCT. In groups 3 and 4, autologous SCT was offered to all other patients, whereas in group 2 they were randomly assigned between chemotherapy and autologous SCT. RESULTS: Overall, 771 patients achieved CR (84%). Median disease-free survival (DFS) was 17.5 months, with 3-year DFS at 37%. In group 1, the 3-year DFS rate was 41%, with no difference between arms of postremission randomization. In groups 2 and 4, the 3-year DFS rates were 38% and 44%, respectively. In group 2, autologous SCT and chemotherapy resulted in comparable median DFS. Patients with an HLA-matched sibling (groups 2 and 4) had improved DFS. Three-year DFS was 24% in group 3. CONCLUSION: Allogeneic SCT improved DFS in high-risk ALL in the first CR. Autologous SCT did not confer a significant benefit over chemotherapy for high-risk ALL.     

Full haplotype-mismatched hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation: a phase II study in patients with acute leukemia at high risk of relapse.

PURPOSE: Establishment of hematopoietic stem-cell (HSC) transplantation from mismatched relatives is feasible for patients with acute leukemia. As our original method of graft processing was unsuitable for large-scale clinical studies, we use automated devices for CD34+ cell purification. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML; 19 complete remission [CR] 1, 14 CR 2, nine CR > 2, 25 in relapse) and 37 with acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL; 14 CR 1, eight CR 2, two CR > 2, 13 in relapse) were conditioned with total-body irradiation, thiotepa, fludarabine, and antithymocyte globulin. Peripheral-blood progenitor cells were mobilized with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and depleted of T-cells using CD34+ cell immunoselection. No post-transplantation graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis was administered. RESULTS: Primary engraftment was achieved in 94 of 101 assessable patients. Six of the seven patients who rejected the primary graft, engrafted after a second transplantation. Overall, 100 of 101 patients engrafted. Acute GvHD developed in eight of 100 patients, and chronic GvHD, in five of 70 assessable patients. Thirty-eight patients died of nonleukemic causes. Relapse occurred in nine of 66 patients receiving transplantation in remission and in 17 of 38 receiving transplantation in relapse. Median follow-up of the 40 patients who survived event-free was 22 months (range, 1 to 65 months). Event-free survival (+/- standard deviation) rate was 48% +/- 8% and 46% +/- 10%, respectively, for the 42 AML and 24 ALL patients receiving transplantation in remission. CONCLUSION: Our transplantation procedure provides reliable, reproducible CD34+ cell purification, high engraftment rates, and prevention of GvHD. The mismatched-related transplant emerges as a viable, alternative source of stem cells for acute leukemia patients without matched donors and/or those who urgently need transplantation.     

Total body irradiation, thiotepa, and cyclophosphamide as a conditioning regimen for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first or second remission undergoing bone marrow transplantation with HLA-identical siblings.

PURPOSE: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) from HLA-identical siblings can be used to treat children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, a significant proportion of patients with ALL who undergo HSCT relapse. For this reason, we prospectively evaluated a preparative regimen that included total body irradiation (TBI), thiotepa (TT), and cyclophosphamide (CY) in patients with high-risk ALL in first complete remission (CR) and in children with ALL in second CR. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty children (median age, 9 years; range, 1 to 18 years) with ALL in first or second CR who underwent allogeneic HSCT from HLA-identical siblings were conditioned with a combination of fractionated TBI, TT (10 mg/kg), and CY (120 mg/kg over 2 days). Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporine administered intravenously at a dose of 1 to 3 mg/kg/d for the first 21 days and subsequently orally at a dose of 6 mg/kg/d. RESULTS: All assessable patients were engrafted, with a median time of 11 and 24 days for neutrophil and platelet recovery, respectively. The preparative regimen was well tolerated. Only one patient died as a result of regimen-related causes. Eight patients relapsed at a median time of 8 months after transplantation (range, 3 to 9 months), and this determined a cumulative probability of relapse of 23%. Twenty-six of 40 patients (65%) are alive and in complete hematologic remission, with a median observation time of 36 months (range, 14 to 57 months), which results in a disease-free survival (DFS) at 3 years of 65%. The 13 patients who underwent transplantation in first CR had a DFS of 85%, whereas the 27 patients who underwent HSCT in second CR had a DFS of 56%. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that TT is an effective cytotoxic drug that can be safely added to the classical TBI-CY regimen. Because of its cell cycle-independent action, good CNS diffusion, and limited extramedullary toxicity, TT may contribute to increasing the percentage of children with ALL who are successfully cured with allogeneic BMT.     

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation versus chemotherapy for the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in second remission: a single-institution study.

PURPOSE: A retrospective analysis of the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in second remission (CR2) was undertaken at our institution to compare the outcome and prognostic factors of patients treated with chemotherapy or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-five children who suffered a medullary relapse and achieved a second remission were treated with either an unmodified allogeneic HLA-matched sibling BMT after hyperfractionated total body irradiation (TBI) and cyclophosphamide (n = 38) or chemotherapy according to institutional chemotherapy protocols (n = 37). To avoid the bias of survival from the attainment of second remission in favor of BMT, the final comparative statistical analysis used the landmark approach and comprised 37 and 29 patients from the BMT and chemotherapy groups, respectively RESULTS: The disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 62% and 26% at 5 years, respectively, for the BMT and the chemotherapy groups (P = .03), with relapse rates of 19% and 67%, respectively, for these two groups (P = .01). There was an overall advantage for the BMT therapeutic approach, as compared with chemotherapy, for patients with ALL in CR2 (1) for patients with a WBC count (at diagnosis) of 20 x 10(9)/L or higher (DFS, 40% v 0%) and those with a WBC count of less than 20 x 10(9)/L (DFS, 73% v35%), (2) for patients whose duration of CR1 was less than 24 months (DFS 48% v 9%) and for patients whose duration of CR1 was 24 months or longer (DFS, 81% v 37%) and (3) for patients who were initially treated with intensive regimens incorporating more than five chemotherapy agents (DFS, 57% v 20%) and for patients treated with five agents or fewer (DFS, 72% v 32%). CONCLUSION: In our single-institution series, unmodified HLA-matched allogeneic sibling transplants using hyperfractionated TBI and cyclophosphamide for patients with ALL in CR2 have resulted in superior outcome with a significantly improved probability of DFS and a lower relapse rate, as compared with those for patients treated with chemotherapy, regardless of the duration of first remission, the disease characteristics at diagnosis, or the intensity of prior treatment during first remission.     

No disadvantage in outcome of using matched unrelated donors as compared with matched sibling donors for bone marrow transplantation in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in second remission.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the outcome of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in second remission (2CR), comparing bone marrow transplantation (BMT) using either matched sibling donors or unrelated donors (URDs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 65 patients, aged 2 months to 20 years at BMT, with ALL in 2CR underwent allogeneic BMT at seven Nordic centers during 1990 to 1997. Of the first relapses, 85% were in bone marrow; 46% occurred on therapy, and 54%, off therapy. The preparative regimens were cyclophosphamide plus total-body irradiation +/- antithymocyte/antilymphocyte globulin, busulfan plus cyclophosphamide +/- antithymocyte/antilymphocyte globulin, or cytarabine plus total-body irradiation. Of the allografts, 37 were from HLA-matched siblings and 28 were from URDs. RESULTS: In the sibling versus URD graft recipient groups, the posttransplantation 5-year event-free survival was 39% versus 54% (P =.4), the estimated posttransplantation relapse rate was 76% versus 40% (P = not significant [NS]), and the toxic death rate was 19% versus 11% (P = NS). The incidence of significant (grade 2 to 4) acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 38% versus 64% (P <.05) and was 14% versus 32% (P <.10) for severe (grade 3 to 4) acute GVHD; the incidence of chronic GVHD was 26% versus 57% (P <.05) and was 13% versus 22% (P = NS) for extensive chronic GVHD in the sibling and URD groups. CONCLUSION: BMT with matched URD allografts offers at least equal survival for children with ALL in 2CR, as compared with allografts from matched sibling donors. URD allografts were not associated with a higher toxic mortality rate, although both acute and chronic GVHD were more frequent with URD. Indications for using matched URD allografts in ALL 2CR can be considered the same as for using matched sibling donors.     

Dose-intensive therapy for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Major challenges remain to be overcome to increase the cure rate for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), especially for middle-aged and older adults. Despite high rates of complete remission (CR), many patients relapse after chemotherapy alone. Dose-intensive therapy and stem-cell transplantation (SCT) have been able to rescue some of these patients. However, many patients presently are being cured using intensive consolidation chemotherapy during first remission (CRI) and at a lower cost and toxicity than with SCT. The use of SCT in CRI should be governed by an assessment of known risk factors. Among younger adults in the prime transplant age group (< 50 years), there is no advantage to allogeneic (allo)-SCT across the board, but it is recommended for those with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) ALL or pro-B ALL with t(4;11) and possibly for those with B-lineage ALL and initial WBC counts > 100,000/microL. There is as yet no evidence that allo-SCT can improve the already high cure rate achieved with chemotherapy alone in favorable subsets such as T-cell ALL. There appears to be no advantage to autologous (auto)-SCT over chemotherapy for consolidation of either high-risk or standard-risk patients in CRI. The argument that early use of auto-SCT shortens the duration of treatment and thereby improves the quality of life is not persuasive, as there is little morbidity from maintenance chemotherapy. Patients who receive a modern, intensive multiagent chemotherapy program for CRI but later relapse are unlikely to be cured with additional chemotherapy alone. High-grade multidrug resistance develops rapidly. These patients should undergo allo-SCT if possible. Unfortunately, allo-SCT is available to only a minority of such patients because of the lack of a donor or insurance coverage, or the presence of comorbid conditions or older age. The use of alternative donors (either matched, unrelated donors or partially human leukocyte antigen [HLA] matched family members) is appropriate in this circumstance. Auto-SCT with or without previously used purging methods is ineffective for patients with advanced ALL.     

Recent trends in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

The indications and results of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation are well known by the analyses of European and International registries. In acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia in first complete remission (CR), the disease-free survival (DFS) is 45%, with a risk of relapse (RR) of 15%; in ALL in first CR the DFS is 60% with a RR of 15%; in ALL in second CR the DFS in 40%, with a RR of 30%; in CML in chronic phase the DFS is 60%, with a RR of 20%. These results have to be adjusted with other risk factors such as age, sex mismatch, disease status, CMV serology, and GVH. The use of donors different from a genotypically matched related donor is currently under investigation. Mismatched related transplants give disappointing results except in the case of one HLA mismatch. Unrelated HLA matched donor panels have been recently established in various countries with 200 transplants performed with a DFS of approximately 40%. Current research tries to reduce the risk of relapse by intensifying the conditioning or using the GVL effect of allogeneic T cells, to reduce GVH by the use of monoclonal antibodies and to improve the engraftment by the use of growth factors.     

异基因造血干细胞移植治疗成人Ph染色体阳性急性淋巴细胞白血病的临床疗效

目的:回顾性分析异基因造血干细胞移植（allo-HSCT）治疗成人Ph染色体阳性的急性淋巴细胞白血病（Ph+ALL）的疗效。方法:收集本院自2011年9月至2018年12月行allo-HSCT的Ph+ALL成人患者29例。移植前处于CR1 23例;CR2 3例;CR3 1例;未缓解（UR）2例。无关供者相合1例,同胞全相合5例,亲缘单倍体23例。骨髓+外周血造血干细胞移植14例,外周血造血干细胞移植15例。预处理方案:白消安/环磷酰胺（Bu/Cy）者1例,TBI/Cy者13例,TBI/Flu者7例,FBA者5例,CBA者3例。21例患者移植后使用TKI维持治疗至MRD阴性后1年。结果:26例获得完全造血重建,另3例患者获得ANC重建,未获得PLT重建。中位随访时间为 13（3~54）个月,死亡10例（34.5%）,死于疾病复发者6例,死于治疗相关并发症者4例（感染2例,严重肝脏GVHD 1例,TA-TMA 1例）。复发患者中均有相关高危因素（移植前未缓解及MRD阳性）。总生存率为65.5%。预期2年DFS 60%,预期2年OS 66%。移植后使用TKI维持组及不维持组预期2年DFS分别为78% vs 46%。结论:allo-HSCT是治疗急性淋巴细胞白血病患者的有效方法,移植后使用TKI维持治疗可提高移植疗效。     

Fractionated total body irradiation and bone marrow transplantation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

From March 1982 to September 1988, 108 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were conditioned before allogeneic (57 patients of whom 16 T-depleted) or before autologous (51 patients) bone marrow transplantation (BMT). BMT was realized in 66 patients (31 allogeneic and 35 autologous) in first complete remission (CR) and in 42 patients (26 allogeneic and 16 autologous) in second CR or greater or in relapse. All patients received high doses of alkylating agents prior to a low-dose fractionated total body irradiation of 11 Gy in 5 fractions and 5 days. Rejection and relapse rate are described in relation to the three BMT types, allogeneic non T-depleted, allogeneic T-depleted, and autologous, and to the status of the patient at the time of the transplantation. Leukemic deaths are detailed according to the same parameters. Non-leukemic deaths and complications are determined. For the allogeneic population, the 4-year disease-free survival (DFS) is 47%; it is 68.5% in first CR patients, 23.5% in second or subsequent CR patients, and 50% in T-depleted BMT. For the autologous population, 4-year DFS is 35.7%; it is 52% in first CR patients and 30% in patients in second CR or greater. The conditioning regimen appears to be efficient in terms of disease control with a low rate of complications for the non T-depleted population, transplanted in first CR, but has to be improved for the other patients.     

Alpha-interferon improves survival and remission duration in P-190BCR-ABL positive adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Treatment of P190BCR-ABL+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients remains problematic: one possibility is to use biologic response modifiers such as alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN), which is known to be active in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). We used alpha-IFN to treat 10 adult P190BCR-ABL+ ALL patients (eight newly diagnosed; two in first relapse). All received a remission induction chemotherapy (modified L-20 protocol). Patients achieving morphological, immunological and cytogenetic complete remission (CR) were then submitted to a rotational consolidation regimen lasting 6 months. When no HLA-identical donor was available, patients aged <55 years underwent stem cell harvest followed by autologous transplantation; patients aged >/=55 years received standard maintenance treatment for 6 months. In the second year, maintenance treatment (all ages) was based on cycles of alpha-IFN (3 MU three times a week for 6 weeks) alternated with methotrexate/6-mercaptopurine continuously for up to 2 years from first demonstration of CR. Thereafter, patients maintaining CR had the same schedule of alpha-IFN (6 weeks on, 6 off). Eight patients (6/8 first diagnosis, 2/2 relapsed) obtained morphological, immunological and cytogenetic CR with persistent molecular positivity. Two with an HLA-identical donor had allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Six proceeded with chemotherapy: one experienced early relapse, three were autotransplanted, and two received maintenance. Five patients then received alpha-IFN as scheduled. All five are in continuous morphological and cytogenetic CR, with a longer mean duration of maintained morphological CR (mean 46 months; range: 20-88) than in previous reports of Ph+ ALL patients treated with chemotherapy regimens (excluding allogeneic BMT). alpha-IFN thus appears effective in this poor-risk subset of patients. This well-tolerated IFN-containing maintenance treatment could be considered to reinforce intensified programs based on autologous stem cell transplantation as an alternative to allogeneic transplantation in P190BCR-ABL+ ALL patients (and by extension for Ph+ ALL patients) lacking an HLA-matched donor. Leukemia (2000) 14, 22-27.     

Minimal residual disease tests provide an independent predictor of clinical outcome in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PURPOSE: Investigation of minimal residual disease (MRD) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) using molecular markers has proven superior to other standard criteria (age, sex, and WBC) in distinguishing patients at high, intermediate, and low risk of relapse. The aim of our study was to determine whether MRD investigation is valuable in predicting outcome in Philadelphia-negative adult patients with ALL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: MRD was assessed in 85 adult patients with B-lineage ALL by semiquantitative immunoglobulin H gene analysis on bone marrow samples collected during four time bands in the first 24 months of treatment. Fifty patients received chemotherapy only and 35 patients received allogeneic (n = 19) or autologous (n = 16) bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in first clinical remission. The relationship between MRD status and clinical outcome was investigated and compared with age, sex, immunophenotype, and presenting WBC count. RESULTS: Fisher's exact test established a statistically significant concordance between MRD results and clinical outcome at all times. Disease-free survival (DFS) rates for MRD-positive and -negative patients and log-rank testing established that MRD positivity was associated with increased relapse rates at all times (P <.05) but was most significant at 3 to 5 months after induction and beyond. MRD status after allogeneic BMT rather than before was found to be an important predictor of outcome in 19 adult patients with ALL tested. In patients receiving autologous BMT (n = 16), the MRD status before BMT was more significant (P =.005). CONCLUSION: The association of MRD test results and DFS was independent of and greater than other standard predictors of outcome and is therefore important in determining treatment for individual patients.     

Minimal residual disease-based effect and long-term outcome of first-line dasatinib combined with chemotherapy for adult Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BackgroundThe use of imatinib combined with chemotherapy has demonstrated improved outcome in adults with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-positive ALL). However, a substantial proportion of patients continue to die as a result of disease progression.Patients and methodsWe assessed the minimal residual disease (MRD)-based effect and long-term outcome of first-line incorporation of dasatinib (100 mg once daily) into chemotherapy alternatively for adults with Ph-positive ALL. The primary end point was the major molecular response (MMR) rate by the end of the second dasatinib cycle. Patients with a donor proceeded to allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) as early as possible. MRD monitoring was centrally evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (4.5-log sensitivity) using bone marrow samples.ResultsFifty-one patients (median age, 46 years) were enrolled and treated with this strategy. After the first dasatinib cycle, 50 patients (98.0%) achieved complete remission (CR). By the end of the second dasatinib cycle, 46 (93.9%) of 49 assessable patients had persistent CR, and 38 (77.6%) had MMR (32.7%) or undetectable MRD (44.9%). On the basis of the MRD kinetics by this time point, the numbers of early-stable, late, and poor molecular responders were 23 (46.9%), 15 (30.7%), and 11 (22.4%), respectively. Thirty-nine patients (76.5%) underwent allogeneic SCT in CR1. After a median follow-up of 54 months, the 4-year cumulative incidence of relapse and disease-free survival (DFS) rate for all patients were 30.0% and 52.0%, respectively, and the corresponding outcomes among those receiving allogeneic SCT in CR1 were 20.5% and 64.1%, respectively. Poor molecular responders had a higher risk of relapse and DFS than those of early-stable molecular responders.ConclusionThis dasatinib-based protocol was effective for achieving a good quality molecular response and durable DFS in adults with Ph-positive ALL.Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov, NCT01004497.     

Syngeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a comparison with allogeneic and autologous transplantation--The Lymphoma Working Committee of the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry and the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

PURPOSE: To compare results of syngeneic, allogeneic, and autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The databases of the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry (IBMTR) and the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation were used to identify 89 NHL patients who received syngeneic transplants. These patients were compared with NHL patients identified from the IBMTR and the Autologous Blood and Marrow Transplant Registry who received allogeneic (T-cell depleted and T-cell replete) and autologous (purged and unpurged) transplants. RESULTS: No significant differences in relapse rates were observed when results of allogeneic transplantation were compared with syngeneic transplantation for any histology. T-cell depletion of allografts was not associated with a higher relapse risk, but was associated with improved overall survival for patients with low-grade and intermediate-grade histology. Patients who received unpurged autografts for low-grade NHL had a five-fold (P =.008) greater risk of relapse than recipients of syngeneic transplants, and recipients of unpurged autografts had a two-fold (P =.0009) greater relapse risk than patients who received purged autografts. Among low-grade NHL patients, the use of purging was associated with significantly better disease-free survival (P =.003) and overall survival (P =.04) when compared with patients who received unpurged autografts. CONCLUSION: These analyses failed to find evidence of a graft-versus-lymphoma effect, but do provide indirect evidence to support the hypothesis that tumor contamination may contribute to lymphoma relapse, and that purging may be beneficial for patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for low-grade NHL.     

Early allogeneic transplantation for refractory or relapsed acute leukaemia following remission induction with FLAG.

The prognosis for patients with secondary AML, primary resistant AML or ALL and early (<12 months) relapse of acute leukaemia remains extremely poor with conventional chemotherapy. As part of a strategy to improve the outcome for these patients we have treated 22 consecutive patients (18 AML, four ALL, median age 35 years) with either primary resistant disease (n=3), early relapsed leukaemia (n= 12) or secondary AML (n= 7, four RAEBt, two antecedant ALL and one antecedant Hodgkin's disease) with 'FLAG' induction chemotherapy with the aim of proceeding to early allogeneic transplantation either from sibling or unrelated donors. Eighteen patients achieved CR after one course of FLAG, including five patients who had documented p-glycoprotein-induced multidrug resistance and 10 patients with adverse cytogenetic abnormalities. Eight patients were consolidated with a second course of FLAG prior to transplantation and so far 16 patients have undergone allogeneic transplantation, 10 from unrelated donors and six from sibling donors (one mismatched). By the time of transplant three patients had progressed and were in early relapse and all have relapsed post BMT. Of the remaining 13 patients transplanted in remission, nine remain in CCR at a range of 4-26 months, three have died of transplant-related complications (18%) and one patient has relapsed. We conclude that the use of FLAG induction therapy followed by early allogeneic transplantation from either a sibling or unrelated donor can be an effective strategy for the treatment of this difficult group of young patients with poor risk acute leukaemia and appears to be associated with a low procedure-related risk.     

Allogeneic stem-cell transplantation from related and unrelated donors in older patients with myeloid leukemia.

PURPOSE: To improve outcome for older patients with poor-prognosis myeloid malignancies by using allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (alloHSCT) from unrelated and sibling donors after reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nineteen older patients (median age, 64 years; range, 60 to 70 years) with active myeloid malignancies were treated with an RIC regimen that was based on fludarabine, melphalan, and carmustine followed by alloHSCT from matched unrelated (n = 12) or sibling donors (n = 7). Before transplantation, patients had a median of 50% bone marrow blasts (range, 0% to 70%). Graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil or methotrexate. Eleven of 12 patients with an unrelated donor also received anti-T-lymphocyte globulin (ATG). RESULTS: Engraftment was successful for all 19 patients. Seventeen assessable patients achieved complete response (CR). Four patients experienced relapse; three achieved CR again after donor lymphocyte infusion (n = 1) or a second alloHSCT (n = 2). Six patients died as a result of relapse (n = 2), GvHD-associated complications (n = 2), or fungal infections (n = 2), resulting in a 1-year nonrelapse mortality rate of 22%. With a median follow-up of 825 days (range, 595 to 1,028 days), 13 of 19 patients are alive, resulting in a 1-year survival rate of 68% (95% confidence interval, 48% to 89%). CONCLUSION: In older patients with untreated poor-prognosis leukemia, this RIC regimen combined with alloHSCT sufficiently reduces the leukemic burden, resulting in a high CR rate. When ATG is added, matched unrelated donor transplantation can be performed safely in older patients. For these patients, early transplantation after diagnosis offers a fair chance of cure.     

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia(CML).METHODS Fifty-seven patients with CML were treated by HSCT, including 8 cases treated with autologous transplantation purged in vivo and in vitro of minimal residual disease (MRD), 39 cases with related donor allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT) and 10 cases with unrelated donor alIo-HSCT. The conditioning regimen was a TBI (total-body irradiation) CY (cyclophosphamide, CTX) protocol in 32 patients, a modified BuCY (hydroxyurea, busulfan, Ara-C, CTX) protocal in 24 patients, and a MACC ( Melphalan, Ara-C, CTX and chlorethyl cyclohexyl nitrosourea ) protocol in one patient. Cyclosporine (CsA) and methotrexate (MTX) were used in patients with related-donor allo-HSCT, and CsA and MTX were added to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and antithymocyte globulin (ATG) in unrelated donor allo-HSCT for graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Otherwise, CsA was only used for GVHD prophylaxis in patients with accelerated phase (AP) and blast crisis (BC). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis model was used to estimate the overall survival (OS) and the disease-free survival (DSF) at 5 years after transplantation.RESULTS Eight patients with autologous transplantation, except for 1 case who died of transplantation-related complications, obtained cytogenetic part or complete remission (CR) within 3 months after transplantation. One patient, who was in BC and obtained CR in hematology before transplantation, had been in molecular CR for 92 months after autologous transplantation. Among the 49 patients treated with alIo-HSCT, all obtained CR, except for one patient who died of hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) and one who had not obtained CR. The incidence of infection and VOD was 33.3% and 7.0%, respectively, during transplantation. After transplantation the incidence of hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) interstitial pneumonia (IP) was 22.8% and 8.8%, respectively. VOD, HC and CMV IP did not occur in patients with autologous transplantation. The incidence of acute GVHD and the frequency of chronic GVHD was 41.0% and 48.6%, respectively, in patients with related and unrelated transplantation. The rate of relapse in patients with autologous and allogeneic transplantation was 57.1% and 12.8%, respectively. The DFS at 5 years after transplantation was 25.0% and 61.7%, respectively, in patients with autologous and related donor transplantation. The DFS at 5 years was 70.7% and 34.1%, respectively, in patients with CP (chronic phase) or AP and BC before transplantation.CONCLUSION AIIo-HSCT may have a higher clinical cure rate for CML patients with CP. The CsA MTX MMF ATG protocol is more effective for acute GVHD prophylaxis and can decrease the incidence and degree of GVHD in patients with unrelated donor transplantation, Autologous transplantation with purged bone marrow can prolong the survival time of CML patients and some may be cured with transplants of this type.     

伊马替尼联合造血干细胞移植或化疗治疗bcr-abl+急性淋巴细胞白血病

 目的　探讨伊马替尼联合异基因造血干细胞移植（allo-HSCT）或化疗治疗bcr-abl+融合基因成年人急性淋巴细胞白血病（ALL）（以下简称成年人ALL）的疗效。方法　12例成年人ALL经骨髓细胞学、细胞化学、免疫学表型、bcr-abl融合基因检测确诊为bcr-abl+ ALL（B细胞型）。初治时接受伊马替尼联合化疗诱导治疗,伊马替尼剂量为400 mg／d。完全缓解（CR）后8例接受allo-HSCT治疗,移植后bcr-abl融合基因转为阳性者给予伊马替尼（400～600 mg／d）治疗,3例接受伊马替尼与化疗交替巩固治疗。结果　11例获得CR,CR率91.7 %;诱导治疗2个疗程时bcr-abl融合基因转阴率为41.7 %;8例接受移植患者3例复发,3例化疗与伊马替尼交替巩固治疗的患者2例复发,伊马替尼联合造血干细胞移植组与伊马替尼联合化疗组患者的中位缓解期分别为16个月与10个月（P＜0.01）;中位生存期为18个月与12个月（P＜0.01）。结论　伊马替尼联合化疗诱导治疗bcr-abl+成年人ALL有较高的血液学和分子生物学缓解率,伊马替尼联合allo-HSCT的疗效优于伊马替尼联合化疗。     

Allogeneic hematopoetic stem-cell transplantation for patients with relapsed or refractory lymphomas: comparison of high-dose conventional conditioning versus fludarabine-based reduced-intensity regimens.

BACKGROUND: Allogeneic hematopoetic stem-cell transplantation (alloHSCT) has curative potential for poor risk lymphoma patients due to the graft-versus-lymphoma effect. High non-relapse mortality with conventional high-dose conditioning indicates the necessity for less toxic transplant strategies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1992 and 1999, 25 patients [median age 37 (20-60) years] with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL, n = 20) or Hodgkin's disease (HD, n = 5) received an alloHSCT in our institution. Patients were grafted from HLA matched (17) or mismatched (2) related, or matched unrelated donors (MUD) (6). NHL histological subtypes were lymphoblastic (6), high grade B/T-cell lymphomas (5), follicular (3), mantle cell (2) and CLL, immunocytic, composite lymphoma and panniculitic T-NHL in one patient each. Patients had received a median of four (range three to six) different therapies before alloHSCT, and 10 patients had relapsed after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous (9) or allogeneic (1) HSCT. Remission status prior to allogeneic SCT was CR1 (1), CR2 (1), relapse (11), partial remission (5) or primary refractory induction failure (7). Conventional myeloablative conditioning (cc) regimens contained total body irradiation 12 Gy (5), busulfan 16 mg/kg (7) or BCNU/VP16 (1). Twelve patients received reduced-intensity conditioning (ric) regimens with fludarabine (FLU) plus alkylating agents. Graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporin A +/- prednisone or methotrexate. Six patients also received anti-T-lymphocyte globulin. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients engrafted. Best response after alloHSCT was complete remission in 16 of all patients [64%: 95% confidence interval (CI) 44% to 84%] and in 16 of 22 evaluable patients (73%: 95% CI 53% to 93%), partial remission in three of 25 (12%), and no change in three of 25 (12%) patients. Early death prevented response evaluation in three of 25 patients. Non-relapse mortality was 54% (95% CI 15% to 78%) in patients after cc and 17% (95% CI 0% to 41%) after FLU-based ric (P = 0.03). Six patients died due to progressive disease or relapse. Four patients with HD died, three in complete remission due to non-relapse mortality and one with progressive disease. Eleven of 25 patients are alive with a median follow up of 618 days (range 383-2815), with an overall survival of 44% (95% CI 23% to 65%) at 1 year for all patients, while eight of 12 (67%: 95% CI 35% to 98%) patients are alive after ric compared with three of 13 (23%; 95% CI 0% to 50%) after cc (P <0.02). CONCLUSIONS: AlloHSCT induces high rates of complete remission in advanced lymphoma patients, even when the tumor had relapsed after autologous HSCT. It should be considered earlier as part of the therapeutic options in poor risk patients to avoid non-relapse mortality associated with extensive pretreatment. Our novel reduced conditioning regimens show promising results, especially in heavily pretreated patients, and improve survival after allogeneic transplantation.