Allo-SCT using reduced-intensity conditioning against advanced pancreatic cancer: a Japanese survey

Bone Marrow Transplant. 2008 Jul;42(2):99-103. doi: 10.1038/bmt.2008.94. Epub 2008 Apr 7.

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is a frequent cause of cancer-related mortality and has an extremely poor prognosis. To evaluate the efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic SCT with reduced-intensity conditioning (RICT) against pancreatic cancer, we analyzed the clinical data of 22 patients. After a fludarabine-based conditioning regimen followed by the infusion of PBSCs, all but two achieved engraftment. Complete, partial and minor response was observed in 1, 2 and 2 patients, respectively, with an overall response rate of 23%. Median survival was only 139 days and the major cause of death was tumor progression. Poor performance status before RICT and a lower number of infused CD34-positive cells were associated with shorter survival after RICT. Patients who developed chronic GVHD tended to survive longer than those who did not. These findings support the investigation of a novel treatment strategy to enhance the immunological effect against pancreatic cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen / analysis
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / etiology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / mortality
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Transplantation Conditioning*
  • Transplantation, Homologous

Substances

  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen