Matched unrelated donor bone marrow transplantation for the treatment of platinum refractory ovarian carcinoma: a case report.
BACKGROUND
We are reporting on a case of platinum-refractory low-grade ovarian cancer responding to treatment with an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from an unrelated donor.


METHODS
The 37-year-old patient received a preparative regimen consisting of fludarabine 25 mg/m(2) on days -6, -5, -4, -3 and -2, melphalan 70 mg/m(2) on days -3 and -2, and thymoglobulin 2 mg/kg on days -3, -2 and -1. An unrelated HLA-compatible bone marrow was infused on day 0. Graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis consisted of tacrolimus and methotrexate. The patient demonstrated complete donor chimerism. Serial CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis over the following 15 months showed a slow regression of the malignant lesion.


CONCLUSIONS
Engraftment of an unrelated donor marrow was achieved in a patient with ovarian cancer and induced a tumor response. This suggests the presence of a graft-versus-tumor effect in ovarian cancer. Further study is underway.
Donato
Michele L
ML
Department of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030-4095, USA. mdonato@mdanderson.org
Levenback
Charles
C
Gershenson
David M
DM
McMeekin
Scott
S
Champlin
Richard E
RE
D000328:Adult; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D020350:Graft vs Tumor Effect; D006801:Humans; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery*; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine; D008558:Melphalan