Haematologica, Vol 92, Issue 8, 1051-1058 doi:10.3324/haematol.11271
Copyright © 2007 by Ferrata Storti Foundation
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Iori, A. P.
Right arrow Articles by Foà, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Iori, A. P.
Right arrow Articles by Foà, R.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Unrelated cord blood transplant in children with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a long-term follow-up

Anna Paola Iori, William Arcese, Filippo Milano, Elisabetta Calabrese, Giovanni Fernando Torelli, Walter Barberi, Maria Grazia Mascolo, Lidia De Felice, Maria Screnci, Barbarella Lucarelli, Luigi Malandruccolo, Maria Paola Perrone, Simona Salvatori, Luca Laurenti, Emilia Iannella, Roberto Ricci, Maria Luisa Moleti, Robin Foà

From the Division of Hematology, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, University "La Sapienza", Rome; Hemato-Oncology Transplant Unit, University "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy (WA)

Correspondence: Anna Paola Iori, MD, Division of Hematology, Via Benevento 6, 00161, Rome, Italy. E-mail: iori{at}bce.uniroma1.it

Background and Objectives: The aim of this single center study was to assess the impact of pre-transplant factors on long-term follow-up in young patients affected by high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who underwent an unrelated cord blood transplant (CBT). The conditioning regimens, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis and supportive policies were uniform for all patients.

Design and Methods: We analyzed the results of CBT performed in 30 patients, aged <18 years, affected by high risk ALL. As conditioning regimen, all patients received 12 Gy fractionated total body irradiation, etoposide, cyclophosphamide and horse anti-lymphocyte globulin. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of 6-methylprednisolone and cyclosporine A.

Results: The cumulative incidence of engraftment was 93% (95% CI:0.85–0.93). The cumulative incidence of grade III–IV acute and chronic GVHD was 7% (95% CI:0.01–0.19) and 33% (95% CI: 0.17–0.64), respectively. The 9-year cumulative incidence of transplantrelated mortality and relapse was 34% (95% CI:0.13–0.45) and 31% (95% CI:0.16–0.61), respectively. The 9-year overall survival, leukemia-free survival and event-free survival were 42% (95% CI:0.52–0.93), 47% (95% CI:0.25–0.61) and 46% (95% CI:0.33–0.61), respectively. A number of CFU-GM <1x104/Kg of recipient body weight was the only factor that negatively affected all outcome parameters both in univariate and multivariate analyses.

Interpretation and Conclusions: The infused cell dose expressed as in vitro progenitor cell growth represents the most important pre-transplant factor affecting the long-term outcome after an unrelated CBT in young patients with high risk ALL. The number of CFU-GM should thus be considered in the selection process of cord blood units for transplant.

Key words: cord blood transplant, leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, unrelated HSC transplant, prognostic factors.