The haploidentical option for high-risk haematological malignancies

Blood Cells Mol Dis. 2008 Jan-Feb;40(1):8-12. doi: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2007.07.004. Epub 2007 Oct 1.

Abstract

Much progress has been made in the clinical, biological and technical aspects of the T-cell-depleted full-haplotype mismatched transplants for acute leukaemia. Our experience demonstrates that infusing a megadose of extensively T-cell-depleted haematopoietic peripheral blood stem cells after an immuno-myeloablative conditioning regimen in acute leukaemia patients ensures sustained engraftment with minimal GvHD without the need of any post-transplant immunosuppressive treatment. Since our first successful pilot study, our efforts have concentrated on developing new conditioning regimens, optimising the graft processing and improving the post-transplant immunological recovery. The results we have so far achieved in more than 200 high-risk acute leukaemia patients show that haploidentical transplantation is now a clinical reality. Because virtually all patients have a mismatched family member, who is immediately available, mismatched transplantation should be offered as a viable option to high-risk acute leukaemia patients who do not have, or cannot find, a matched donor.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Graft Survival
  • Graft vs Host Disease
  • Haplotypes*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Histocompatibility*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / complications
  • Leukemia / therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / complications
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / therapy
  • Lymphocyte Depletion*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / methods
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / complications
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Transplantation Conditioning
  • Treatment Outcome