Research Article

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allogeneic HCT) for treatment of pediatric Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)†

  1. Michael J. Burke MD1,*,
  2. Qing Cao MS2,
  3. Barb Trotz BSN1,
  4. Brenda Weigel MD, MSc1,
  5. Ashish Kumar MD, PhD1,
  6. Angela Smith MD, MS1,
  7. Michael R. Verneris MD1

Article first published online: 3 SEP 2009

DOI: 10.1002/pbc.22263

Issue

Pediatric Blood & Cancer

Pediatric Blood & Cancer

Volume 53, Issue 7, pages 1289–1294, 15 December 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Burke, M. J., Cao, Q., Trotz, B., Weigel, B., Kumar, A., Smith, A. and Verneris, M. R. (2009), Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allogeneic HCT) for treatment of pediatric Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 53: 1289–1294. doi: 10.1002/pbc.22263

Author Information

  1. 1

    Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  2. 2

    Biostatistic Core, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

*Division of Hematology/Oncology/Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, MMC484, D-557 Mayo Building, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455.

  1. †

    The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 9 OCT 2009
  2. Article first published online: 3 SEP 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 31 JUL 2009
  4. Manuscript Received: 23 APR 2009

Funded by

  • Children's Cancer Research Fund (CCRF)

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (99K)

Keywords:

  • allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation;
  • imatinib;
  • Ph+ ALL;
  • stem cell transplant

Abstract

Background

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) with best available donor for children with Philadelphia positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has previously been considered standard practice. Since the introduction of imatinib into the treatment of this disease, the role of allogeneic HCT is more uncertain.

Procedure

We investigated the impact of remission status, graft source, and imatinib use on transplant outcomes for 37 children with Ph+ ALL who received an allogeneic HCT at the University of Minnesota between 1990 and 2006. The median age at HCT was 7.47 (range; 1.4–16.4) years. Thirteen patients received imatinib therapy pre- and/or post-HCT (imatinib group) and 24 patients, received either no imatinib (n = 23) or only post-HCT relapse (n = 1) (non-imatinib group).

Results

There was no difference in disease-free survival (DFS) or relapse between the imatinib and non-imatinib groups at 3 years (62%/15% vs. 53%/26%; P = 0.99; 0.81, respectively). There was no significant difference in transplant outcomes between matched related donor or unrelated donor (umbilical cord blood or matched unrelated marrow) recipients whereas patients receiving allogeneic HCT in first remission (CR1) had superior DFS and less relapse compared to patients transplanted in ≥CR2 (71%/16% vs. 29%/36%; P = 0.01; P = 0.05).

Conclusions

Based on this retrospective analysis at a single institution, the use of imatinib either pre- and/or post-transplant does not appear to significantly impact outcomes for children with Ph+ ALL and allogeneic HCT with the best available donor should be encouraged in CR1. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009; 53:1289–1294. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (99K)