Is there a role for allogeneic transplantation in chronic myeloid leukemia?

Allogeneic hemopoietic cell transplantation has moved away from being the standard of care for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Its role is currently limited to an unsatisfactory response to therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors as well as advanced stages of the disease. The advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitors has been one of the most remarkable advances in any form of cancer. Never-the-less, as a definitive procedure, allogeneic transplantation remains the only curative modality and its use in carefully selected patients, who have an inadequate response, has been increasingly recognized. It remains a standard of care for patients who present with blast crisis CML and is often used also in accelerated phase. The future for patients with CML has become so much brighter over the past decade but new issues and considerations continually emerge.