Reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplantation is a potential therapeutic approach for adults with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia in remission: results of a prospective phase 2 study.
The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the feasibility of reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) in 37 adults with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in first (n=30) or second (n=7) complete remission (CR). All patients were treated with fludarabine (150 mg/m(2)) and melphalan (140 mg/m(2)) followed by transplantation from matched sibling (n=27) or unrelated (n=10) donors. The indications for reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic SCT (RIC-SCT) were as follows: (1) > or = 50 years, 16 (43.2%) and (2) decreased organ function or active infections, 21 (56.8%). Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis consisted of calcineurin inhibitor (cyclosporine for sibling and tacrolimus for unrelated transplants) and methotrexate. The cumulative incidence of acute (grades II-IV) and chronic GVHD was 43.2 and 65.6%, respectively. After a median follow-up of 36 months for surviving transplants, the 3-year relapse, non-relapse mortality, disease-free survival and overall survival rates were 19.7, 17.7, 62.6 and 64.1%, respectively. Transplants in first CR showed better transplantation outcomes than those in second CR. The potential of antileukemic activity of chronic GVHD was also found. This study suggests that RIC-SCT is a potential therapeutic approach for adults with high-risk ALL in remission who are ineligible for myeloablative transplantation.
Department of Hematology, Catholic Blood and Marrow Transplantation Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
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D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D055815:Young Adult
D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine; D008558:Melphalan