Outcomes of patients with AML and MDS who relapse or progress after reduced intensity allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplant. 2007 Dec;40(11):1027-32. doi: 10.1038/sj.bmt.1705852. Epub 2007 Sep 10.

Abstract

We describe treatment, outcomes and prognostic factors for patients who relapse following transplantation with a reduced intensity conditioning regimen. Seventy consecutive patients with high-risk myeloid malignancies underwent transplant and 25 (36%) relapsed, a median of 120 days later. The median percentage of bone marrow blasts at relapse was 24, the median donor chimerism was 73% and new karyotypic abnormalities occurred in 8 out of 20 (40%) evaluable patients. Twenty-one patients (84%) received aggressive treatment for relapse, including chemotherapy (60%), second hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT; 52%) and/or donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI; 12%). Thirteen achieved a complete response (CR) and four remain in CR. Median overall survival (OS) after relapse was 6 months (95% confidence interval=2.7-9.9 months), and actuarial 1 year OS was 24%. Most deaths were due to disease progression (17/20, 85%). We did not observe an advantage for cellular therapy (DLI or second transplant) compared to chemotherapy. Salvage therapy for relapse after reduced intensity HCT is feasible, associated with low treatment-related mortality, and may result in prolonged survival in select patients. Studies exploring the optimal treatment for relapse following reduced intensity HCT are warranted.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alemtuzumab
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / therapy*
  • Male
  • Melphalan / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / therapy*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / therapy*
  • Prognosis
  • Salvage Therapy / methods*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Transplantation Conditioning / adverse effects
  • Transplantation Conditioning / methods
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vidarabine / analogs & derivatives
  • Vidarabine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm
  • Alemtuzumab
  • Vidarabine
  • fludarabine
  • Melphalan