title: Non-myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation in patients with solid tumours and patients with a haematological malignancy.
abstract: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is a treatment option for several haematological tumours, not only to regain haematopoiesis after myeloablative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, but also for its apparent antitumour effect. This so-called graft-versus-tumour effect might not only be effective against haematological tumours, where it has best been proven, but also against solid tumours. To reduce morbidity and treatment-related mortality of allo-SCT, efforts are being made to establish engraftment of allogeneic stem cells after a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen and create a 'mini transplantation'. Such a therapy relies more heavily on the graft-versus-malignancy effect than on the antitumour effect exerted by the chemotherapy/radiotherapy. Here, we report the outcomes of 15 patients with haematological disease or solid tumours who underwent an SCT in the University Hospital Maastricht after a non-myeloablative fludarabine/cyclophosphamide conditioning regimen. Although results are promising, adjustments will be needed to ensure long-term stable engraftment and optimise the antitumour effect.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Maastricht, Department of Internal Medicine, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huugen
authors.forename: G M J
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lalisang
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wagstaff
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Schouten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000209:etiology; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine