Faculty Collaboration Database

Changing trends in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for leukemia in the 1980s. JAMA 1992 Aug 05;268(5):607-12 PMID: 1321298

Pubmed ID

1321298

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify changes in practice and outcome of bone marrow transplants for leukemia in the 1980s.

DESIGN: Comparison of key explanatory and outcome variables in five 2-year cohorts, from 1980 through 1981 to 1988 through 1989, using a large database of detailed clinical information.

PATIENTS: Recipients (7788) of bone marrow transplants for acute lymphoblastic, acute myelogenous, or chronic myelogenous leukemia reported to the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry, Milwaukee, Wis, by 185 transplant teams worldwide.

RESULTS: Linear increases occurred during the periods 1980 through 1981 to 1988 through 1989 as follows with 95% confidence intervals: (1) transplants for chronic myelogenous leukemia from 14% +/- 2% to 35% +/- 2%; (2) transplants from unrelated donors from 1% +/- 1% to 7% +/- 1%; (3) preparative regimens without radiation from 3% +/- 1% to 30% +/- 2%; and (4) use of methotrexate plus cyclosporine to prevent graft-vs-host disease from 2% +/- 1% to 55% +/- 2%. Among recipients of human lymphocyte antigen-identical sibling bone marrow, the 2-year probability of treatment-related mortality decreased by 6% to 22%. The probability of relapse decreased from 46% +/- 6% to 38% +/- 6% in intermediate leukemia but did not change appreciably in early or advanced leukemia. Probabilities of leukemia-free survival improved from 51% +/- 4% to 57% +/- 3% in early leukemia, from 28% +/- 4% to 36% +/- 5% in intermediate leukemia, and from 12% +/- 4% to 18% +/- 5% in advanced leukemia. A separate analysis of a homogenous population of patients indicated that improvements in outcome in the 1980s were due to improvements in transplant practice rather than improved patient selection.

CONCLUSIONS: Modest increases in leukemia-free survival rates occurred after human lymphocyte antigen-identical sibling bone marrow transplants in the 1980s. Improvements were due primarily to reductions in treatment-related mortality with little or no change in relapse risk. More effective antileukemia strategies and continued reductions in treatment-related toxic effects are needed.

Author List

Bortin MM, Horowitz MM, Gale RP, Barrett AJ, Champlin RE, Dicke KA, Gluckman E, Kolb HJ, Marmont AM, Mrsic M

Author

Mary M. Horowitz MD, MS Center Director, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

Scopus

2-s2.0-0026638812   69 Citations

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Bone Marrow Transplantation
Clinical Protocols
Cytomegalovirus Infections
Graft vs Host Disease
Humans
Immunosuppression
Leukemia
Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma
Tissue Donors
Transplantation, Homologous
Treatment Outcome