title: Nonmyeloablative stem cell transplantation with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide for patients with hematologic malignancies.
abstract: We conducted a multi-center phase I/II trial of nonmyeloablative stem cell transplantation for patients with hematologic malignancies. The aim of this trial was to assess the safety and feasibility of this treatment modality for older or younger patients with significant organ dysfunction, who could not be treated with conventional high dose chemoradiotherapy. Twelve patients were treated with a conditioning regimen consisting of fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, followed by peripheral blood stem cell transplantation from human leukocyte antigen (HLA) identical siblings. Nonhematologic toxicities were mild. Median time to absolute neutrophils above 0.5 x 10(9)/l, 1.0 x 10(9)/l and platelets above 50 x 10(9)/l were 8, 10 and 12 days, respectively. Donor dominant hematopoiesis was achieved in all patients, with or without donor leukocyte infusion. The cumulative incidence of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 75 and 56%, respectively. Only one patient experienced early death within 100 days, caused by acute GVHD complicated by fungal infection. All patients except one achieved complete remission. With a median follow-up of 330 days, expected progression-free survival is 75%. Overall survival is 76%. Our study confirms that nonmyeloablative stem cell transplantation with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine conditioning is a safe and promising treatment for elderly patients with hematologic malignancies. A further study in large-scale setting is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Boseidai, Isehara, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kishi
authors.forename: Jun-Ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ueyama
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyakoshi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hatsumi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyawaki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yokota
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakamaki
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015994:Incidence; D017708:Leukocyte Transfusion; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D018183:Transplantation Chimera; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine