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The role of allogeneic transplantation in high-risk acute myelogenous leukemia

Abstract

Patients with high-risk acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in first remission are at increased risk for disease recurrence and are often considered for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) if there is a suitable HLA-identical sibling donor. Analysis of results from randomized clinical trials comparing different treatment strategies for patients with AML (chemotherapy, autologous BMT, and allogeneic BMT) suggests that allogeneic BMT may be a superior treatment modality for patients in the high-risk subgroup. Interpretation of clinical trial results, however, is problematic due to poor compliance with transplant options, absence of studies specifically designed to addresses this question, and ongoing redefinition of the high-risk subgroup. Alternative allogeneic transplant approaches to reduce toxicity from graft-versus-host disease and enhance graft-versus-leukemia reactivity may offer therapeutic promise in this patient population.

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Correspondence to W R Drobyski.

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This paper is part of series of keynote addresses to be published in Leukemia. They were presented at the Acute Leukemia Forum, San Francisco, Friday, April 16th, 2004

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Drobyski, W. The role of allogeneic transplantation in high-risk acute myelogenous leukemia. Leukemia 18, 1565–1568 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2403482

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