Where does allogeneic stem cell transplantation fit in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia?

Curr Hematol Malig Rep. 2015 Mar;10(1):59-64. doi: 10.1007/s11899-014-0242-1.

Abstract

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) has been considered as the treatment of choice for patients with high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (i.e., refractory to purine analogs, short response (<24 months) to intensive treatments, and/or presence of 17p/TP53 abnormalities). Currently, new and highly effective therapeutic agents targeting BCR-mediated intracellular signal transduction have been incorporated into the CLL treatment armamentarium. These signal transduction inhibitors (STI) will change the algorithms of high-risk CLL (HR-CLL) management. Despite the limited body of evidence, there is sufficient rationale for withholding alloHSCT in patients with 17p-/TP53mut CLL in first remission. In contrast, the perspectives of patients with relapsed 17p-/TP53mut CLL remain uncertain even if responding to STI. The same accounts for patients with HR-CLL progressing under STI. In both scenarios, it is reasonable to consider alloHSCT, ideally after response to alternative STI regimens.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / genetics
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / therapy*
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Recurrence
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Withholding Treatment

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase