title: The role of cytotoxic therapy with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults: an evidence-based review.
abstract: Evidence supporting the role of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) in the therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults (> or =15 years) is presented and critically evaluated in this systematic evidence-based review. Specific criteria were used for searching the published medical literature and for grading the quality and strength of the evidence, and the strength of the treatment recommendations. Treatment recommendations based on the evidence are presented and were reached unanimously by a panel of acute lymphoblastic leukemia experts. The priority areas of needed future research for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia are: definition of patients at high risk in first complete remission, beyond Philadelphia chromosome positive; outcomes of SCT in older (>50 years) adults; determination if reduced intensity versus myeloablative conditioning regimens yield an equivalent graft-versus-leukemia effect with reduced toxicity; monitoring of minimal residual disease to achieve disease control before SCT; and the use of cord blood and other alternative sources of stem cells for use in adult SCT recipients.
authors.affiliation: Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263, USA. theresa.hahn@roswellpark.org
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Camitta
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Hildy
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dillon
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaynon
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seidenfeld
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weisdorf
authors.forename: Philip L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D020544:Graft vs Leukemia Effect; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome