Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in chronic myeloid leukemia: current concepts and Brazilian experience

Abstract

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT) remains the unique curative therapy for CML in all clinical phases of the disease. However, the results of Imatinib Mesilate (IM) therapy are sufficiently impressive to have displaced ASCT to second- or third-line treatment depending on the availability of newly developed tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The decision for transplantation depends on a variety of clinical and biological situations. The Leukemia Net recommendations as well the NCCN guidelines help us to choose the best moment to perform ASCT. In 1998, Gratwohl and colleagues published a score in order to establish the risk of ASCT before the procedure. In 2005, the Brazilian group, studying more than 1000 patients in an independent population, validated the risk score previously proposed by the EBMT Group. In this paper we discuss the position of ASCT in a country such as Brazil that presents resource limitations. In 2006, the EBMT published an activity survey about ASCT in CML and discussed the changes in treatment indications over the past 15 years and presented differences in medical conduct in West versus East Europe concerning ASCT indication. Despite of risks, ASCT remains a valid curative treatment. To delay or to perform the ASCT in advanced phases (accelerated- or blastic-phase) increases procedure-related mortality rates and reduces the probability of cure.