[Allogeneic stem cell transplantation in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia].
BACKGROUND
The success rate for chemotherapy of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in Norway compares favourably with that in international reports, but improvements are still needed. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is an option for patients up to 60 years and may contribute to improving the outcome for these patients.


METHODS
Allogen stem cell transplantation was performed in 61 high-risk patients (38 men and 23 women) with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at Rikshospitalet between 1985 and 2005. 19 patients were transplanted in first remission and 42 at a later stage of the disease.


RESULTS
At the end of 2006, 26 patients (43%) were alive; 21 (35%) in complete remission and 5 with relapse. Median survival time was 1.5 years. Relapse was the most important cause of treatment failure (38%), but transplantation-related mortality (25%) was also a substantial problem. Estimated 5-year actuarial leukemia-free survival was 35 %.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results are in line with international reports on the results of allogen stem cell transplantation in high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. This treatment offers cure for patients with an otherwise dismal prognosis. A larger number of patients should be offered such treatment during the first remission than what was the case in the 20-year period this study took place.
Fløisand
Yngvar
Y
Seksjon for blodsykdommer, Medisinsk avdeling, Rikshospitalet, 0027 Oslo.
Brinch
Lorentz
L
Dybedal
Ingunn
I
Gedde-Dahl
Tobias
T
Heldal
Dag
D
Holme
Pål André
PA
Egeland
Torstein
T
Tjønnfjord
Geir E
GE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome