title: Outcome of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in third complete remission: a vital role for graft-versus-host-disease/ graft-versus-leukaemia effect in survival.
abstract: Children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) receiving haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in third complete remission (CR3) are at high risk for transplant-related mortality (TRM) and relapse. Twenty-two consecutive children with ALL in CR3 received HSCT between January 1994 and August 2005. Ten patients died of TRM, seven patients relapsed, six did not have graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Five patients were long-term survivors, (median follow-up, 5.8 years; range 2.9-11.7). Three-year event-free survival was 0.32 (95% confidence interval 0.19 and 0.59). Survivors had moderate to severe GVHD. Allowing some GVHD or exploring means of inducing GVHD should be considered in CR3 patients.
authors: Division of Haematology/Oncology/BMT, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. adam.gassas@sickkids.ca
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Gassas
authors: M Kashif
authors: MK
authors: Ishaqi
authors: Samina
authors: S
authors: Afzal
authors: Annie
authors: A
authors: Dupuis
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Doyle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000401:mortality*; D020544:Graft vs Leukemia Effect; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015452:Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction