Unrelated donor transplantation after reduced intensity conditioning as an approach for patients lacking related donors for allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) after reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) provides a new curative treatment option for patients usually not eligible for allogeneic SCT. Because the majority of patients lack HLA-identical sibling donors (SD), unrelated donor (UD) transplantation is performed increasingly. In this retrospective analysis, we have reviewed our experience with reduced-intensity conditioning regimens, comparing related and unrelated donors. From November, 1997, to February, 2002, 51 patients with hematological malignancies received allogeneic SCT after various RIC regimens. A total of 31 had a related donor, and the remaining 20 had an unrelated donor (UD). Both groups were comparable with respect to age and gender. We observed a trend toward higher rate of graft failure in the unrelated donor group with 11% compared to 3% in the related donor group (p = 0.55). The rate of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) II-IV was 36% in the RD group versus 44% for the UD group; severe GVHD III-IV occurred in 26% and 22%, respectively. There were more serious infections in the unrelated donor group with 25% compared to 16%. Transplant-related mortality was 13% (RD group) versus 30% (UD group). At 21 months, progression-free survival was 30% in both groups. The Kaplan Meier estimate of overall survival was 40% (RD) and 30% (UD group). In summary, we found no statistically significant difference regarding progression free and overall survival, despite a trend for more graft failure and increased transplant-related complications associated with the use of stem cells from unrelated donors.