[Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in developing countries: Management from the transplant indication (allo/auto) until post-transplant follow-up. Guidelines from the SFGM-TC]

Abstract

Management of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients in countries with limited resources depends on the means of prognostic stratification, available treatment and logistics. During the 12th annual harmonization workshops of the francophone Society of bone marrow transplantation and cellular therapy (SFGM-TC), a designated working group reviewed the literature in order to elaborate unified guidelines for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (Allo-HCT) in this disease. Conventional poor prognostic factors can be used to determine the indication of allo-HCT in first remission. Patients lacking a HLA-matched related donor can be allografted with a haploidentical donor allo-HCT if available. Chemotherapy based conditioning regimen can be used if TBI is not available, because the probability to find a radiotherapy department with the capacity for total body irradiation is low. For patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive (Phi+) ALL, post-transplantation tyrosine kinase inhibitors as a systematic maintenance strategy is recommended. Autologous HCT is optional for Phi+ ALL patients with negative minimal residual disease, who not eligible for allo-HCT. Patients with refractory/relapsed disease have a poor prognosis which highlights the importance of acquiring in the future new therapies such as: blinatumumab, inotuzumab, and CAR-T cells.

Keywords: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Developing countries; Greffe de cellules souches hématopoïétiques; Guidelines; Hematopoietic cell transplantation; Leucémie aiguë lymphoblastique; Pays en voie de développement; Recommandations; SFGM-TC.