Autologous stem cell transplantation for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. The Argentine Group of Bone Marrow Transplantation (GATMO) experience.

BACKGROUND

The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the role of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in prolonging disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who received autografts of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) positive or Ph negative cell harvests.

METHODS

Over a 4-year period (1994-1999), 53 patients who underwent ASCT for CML were reported to the Argentine Group of Bone Marrow Transplantation (GATMO) Registry.

RESULTS

Ph negative cell products were harvested in only 18 patients (34%). Comparison of disease status at the time of autograft, duration of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, days of antibiotics, and transfusional requirements of red blood cells and platelets did not reveal statistical significant differences between the Ph positive group and the Ph negative group. Only days of hospitalization were increased significantly in patients who received Ph positive autografts. Although DFS at 36 months was significantly longer after infusion of Ph negative cell products (54% vs. 14%; P <or= 0.005), OS differences between the Ph negative group and the Ph positive group (68% vs. 53%; P <or= 0.134) were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

ASCT with Ph negative cell harvests after myeloablative chemotherapy resulted in prolonged periods of hematologic and cytogenetic remission or stable disease after cytogenetic/molecular recurrence in some patients with CML. A superior DFS was observed without any benefit observed for OS.