Allogeneic stem cell transplantation for relapsed and refractory acute myeloid leukemia patients with 11q23 abnormalities

Abnormalities involving chromosome band 11q23 are seen in de novo and therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The role of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) in AML with 11q23 abnormalities is not well defined. We present here the outcome of 14 AML patients with 11q23 abnormalities transplanted beyond first complete remission (CR) or with primarily refractory disease. Eleven cases were de novo and three therapy-related AML. At transplant, five patients were in first untreated relapse, one second CR, one second relapse and seven had refractory disease. All 14 patients underwent allogeneic SCT. Total body irradiation was used in 93% of patients and cyclosporine-methotrexate for graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis in 71%. The relapse rate of engrafted patients was 58%. Five year survival and disease-free survival were 14 and 7%, respectively. Allogeneic SCT for AML with 11q23 abnormalities was of limited benefit in this cohort of patients transplanted beyond first CR or with primarily refractory disease.