title: Evidence of graft-versus-Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia effect after allogeneic stem cell transplantation: a single centre experience.
abstract: The role of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia (WM) is not yet clear, as published data on allogeneic SCT in WM are limited. We present a retrospective study of allogeneic SCT in five patients with WM. Median age was 56 years (range 40-60 years). All patients were heavily pretreated. Conditioning therapy with busulphan and cyclophosphamide was used for all patients and all were given cyclosporine and methotrexate for graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis. With a median follow-up of 32 months (range 2-43), all except one are alive and disease free. Progressive, delayed decline in serum IgM levels were noted in all the patients, suggesting an active graft-versus-Waldenstrom's effect. With the limited available data, it appears that allogeneic SCT is a useful treatment option for advanced WM.
authors.affiliation: Allogeneic Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stakiw
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuruvilla
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Messner
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lipton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D020350:Graft vs Tumor Effect; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D008258:Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / Q000628:therapy*