Allogeneic stem cell transplantation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for patients <or=50 years old in first complete remission: results of the EORTC ALL-3 trial.
OBJECTIVE
In the EORTC ALL-3 trial, the efficacy of allogeneic transplantation was compared with that of autologous marrow transplantation and maintenance chemotherapy in patients <or= 50 years who reached CR.


METHODS
Among 340 patients who entered the study, 279 were <or=50 years old. Out of these, 220 reached CR, 184 patients started consolidation and were HLA typed; 68 had a donor and 116 had no sibling donor. The median follow-up was 9.5 years; 93 patients relapsed, 26 died in CR, and overall 116 patients died. Allogeneic transplantation was performed in 47 (68%) patients with a donor while autologous transplantation or maintenance chemotherapy was given to 84 (72%) patients without a sibling donor.


RESULTS
The 6-year disease-free survival rate was similar in the groups with and without donor [38.2% (SE=5.9%) vs. 36.8% (SE=4.6%), hazard ratio 1.01, 95% CI 0.67-1.53]. Comparing the donor group with the no donor group, the former had a lower relapse incidence (38.2% vs. 56.3%, p=0.001), but a higher cumulative incidence of death in CR (23.5% vs. 6.9%, p=0.0004). The 6-year survival rates were similar [41.2% (SE=6.0%) vs. 38.8% (SE=4.6%)].


CONCLUSIONS
This trial did not show that allogeneic transplantation, when a sibling donor is available, produces a better outcome than the policy of offering autotransplantation or chemotherapy in the absence of a donor.
Labar
Boris
B
Department of Hematology, University Hospital Center Rebro, Zagreb, Croatia. boris.labar@inet.hr
Suciu
Stefan
S
Zittoun
Robert
R
Muus
Petra
P
Marie
Jean Pierre
JP
Fillet
Georges
G
Peetermans
Marc
M
Stryckmans
Pierre
P
Willemze
Roel
R
Feremans
Walter
W
Jaksic
Branimir
B
Bourhis
Jean-Henri
JH
Burghouts
Jean-Pierre
JP
de Witte
Theo
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome