Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for leukemia

Abstract

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation cures some persons with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, and chronic myelogenous leukemia. Considerable data suggest that most cures result from immune-mediated antileukemia effects of the transplant rather than intensive pretransplantation chemotherapy and radiation. The mechanism of these immune-mediated effects, termed graft-versus-leukemia, is unknown. In the past 25 years more than 20,000 allogeneic transplantations were performed worldwide in persons with leukemia. Here we review single- and multicenter studies and analyses of the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry on results of allografts for leukemia.