title: Reduced incidence of GVHD without increase in relapse with low-dose rabbit ATG in the preparative regimen for unrelated bone marrow transplants in CML.
abstract: Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) treatment prevents graft failure and results in a low incidence of GVHD, but an increased risk of relapse could be expected as a consequence of reduced GVHD. From September 1995 to June 2001, 28 consecutive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients underwent unrelated bone marrow transplants: 21 were in chronic phase (CP) and seven in advanced phase (AP). Median age was 35.5 years (range 20-50). HLA typing was based on high-resolution molecular techniques; in eight cases there were one or more allele mismatches. The preparative regimen consisted of TBI, EDX 120 mg/kg and rabbit ATG 15 mg/kg. All patients engrafted and no rejection occurred. Acute GVHD grade III-IV occurred in six patients (21%). Chronic GVHD occurred in 10 (40%) and it was extensive in one. Four out of seven patients transplanted in AP had a hematological relapse. Of 21 in CP, there was one cytogenetic and one molecular relapse: these two patients are now in complete remission with imatinib mesylate. With a median follow-up of 45.7 months, the 5-year survival is 76.2% for those transplanted in CP. These data demonstrate that transplants performed in CP, with low-dose ATG, are associated with a good outcome, low incidence of GVHD and no increase of relapse.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Clinical Oncology L e A. Seràgnoli, University of Bologna, St Orsola Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonifazi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bandini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rondelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Falcioni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stanzani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bontadini
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Tazzari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arpinati
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baccarani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011817:Rabbits; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum